Wayne Rooney could not be prouder to be named alongside Patrick Vieira as the next two players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. 

The Manchester United and Arsenal legends locked horns numerous times throughout their careers as the two clubs battled for domestic glory. 

And Derby boss Rooney, the league's all-time second top scorer with 208 goals, said: "It's a huge honour for me to be named in the Premier League Hall of Fame alongside an incredible group of players who have already been inducted.

"Growing up, I watched the Premier League as far back as I can remember. 

"My dream was always to become a professional footballer, score goals and win trophies — and I was lucky enough to win the league five times.

"I have so many brilliant memories from my years playing for Everton and Manchester United and I'm really proud of what we achieved.

"To enter the Hall of Fame is very special for me personally and I'm grateful to be recognised."

Vieira, 45, joined Arsenal from AC Milan in 1996 and helped the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 1997-98. 

He went on to lift the trophy twice more, including when he captained the club's famous Invincibles to glory in 2003-04. 

The Crystal Palace manager said: "To be there with the best players in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is bigger than what I was ever thinking about. 

"To have my name around those players makes me proud and makes me realise how good I was. 

"It's not bad company to join. I was lucky to play at the same time as some of them, of course including Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. 

"So to share the stage with them makes me realise I had a really good career. 

"What really makes me happy and proud is when your name is mentioned by new, up-and-coming holding midfielders as an example of how they would like to play."

Rooney, 36, and Vieira are the ninth and 10th players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Alan Shearer, Henry, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard and David Beckham.

All inducted stars receive a medallion engraved with their name and the year of their induction, with a £10,000 donation made by the Premier League to a charity of their choice.