Rooney was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.[4] He started his career playing youth football with Bellshill Boys Club and Dundee United,[5] before signing with Scottish League Two club Queen's Park in July 2013.[6] Rooney's first-team debut came shortly after signing for the club, in a Scottish Challenge Cup defeat against Ayr United at Hampden Park.[7] During the 2013–14 season, Rooney made 11 appearances for Queen's Park.[7] His breakthrough season came in 2014–15, when he played in 30 matches, scoring his first goal on 15 November 2014 with a header against Elgin City in a 4–1 win.[8][9] Rooney's impressive performances for Queen's Park saw him awarded the club's Young Player of the Year[10] and also being named in the PFA Scotland Scottish League Two Team of the Year.[11]
Dunfermline Athletic
The start of 2015–16 saw Rooney go on trial with both Hearts and St Mirren,[12] however it was Dunfermline Athletic that he eventually signed with.[13] Rooney appeared initially on trial with Dunfermline in August 2015 and was a named substitute against Peterhead and Stranraer, replacing Lewis Martin in defence against Stranraer.[14] His debut after signing for the club came as a first half substitute against Ayr United, replacing Callum Fordyce after the Dunfermline captain was injured.[15] Rooney's first goal for Dunfermline came against Stenhousemuir in December 2015, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory at East End Park.[16] He made 14 appearances and scored one goal[17] as Dunfermline won the Scottish League One title in 2015–16.[18]
On 25 April 2018, Rooney signed a pre-contract agreement to join Scottish Championship club Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 1 June 2018 upon the expiration of his contract at Queen of the South.[23] He made his debut on 14 July, starting in a 2–0 home win over Cove Rangers in the Scottish League Cup.[24] He scored his first goal for Inverness on 1 September with a 51st-minute header from Tom Walsh's cross in a 3–0 away win over Dunfermline in the league.[24][25]
St Johnstone
In June 2020, Rooney moved to St Johnstone on a two-year deal, having signed a pre-contract earlier in the year.[26][27] On 28 February 2021 he scored the winning goal as St Johnstone beat Livingston 1–0 in the 2021 Scottish League Cup Final.[28] On 22 May 2021, through a header in the 32nd minute Rooney scored the only goal of the 2021 Scottish Cup Final against Hibernian as St Johnstone won 1–0 at Hampden Park to complete a historic cup double, becoming the fifth player in the 21st century to score in both cup finals in the same season.[29]
In May 2024, Rooney signed a two-year contract at Scottish Premiership club St Mirren.[31]
On 26 September 2024, the club announced that Rooney had been suspended due to his involvement in an alleged incident in Glasgow the previous week.[32] On 27 September 2024, Police Scotland confirmed that Rooney had been arrested and charged with assaulting an 18-year-old woman and a breach of the peace involving an 18-year-old male, with the latter treated as a hate crime.[33] On 18 October 2024, St Mirren announced that Rooney had left the club by mutual consent.[34]
Personal life
His great-uncle Benny Rooney was also a footballer, mainly with St Johnstone, and his great-grandfather Bob also played but was better known as a physiotherapist at Celtic.[35]
Career statistics
As of match played 11 February 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition