In his book "Pray: Notes on the 2011/2012 Football Season," Nick Hornby reflects on the substantial changes in football and its players over the past thirty years. He notes that a player like Wayne Rooney has achieved such financial success that he could hire the highest-paid banker in the UK to work for him full-time. This statement highlights the vast wealth disparity in the sport today compared to previous eras.

Hornby’s observation underscores the commercialization of football and the lucrative contracts that top players command. Rooney’s ability to afford such a luxury emphasizes not only his personal success but also the broader economic transformation within the sport, revealing how football has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry where players' financial power has reached astonishing heights.