He burst onto the Old Trafford picture with a European hat trick and against Feyenoord flashes of the old Rooney saw him become Manchester United 's all time number one European goalscorer.
It was a throwback to the devil-may-care teenage Rooney who instantly ensured Reds' fans fell in love with him against Fenerbahce 12 years ago as he slipped past his marker midway in his own half and at full pelt hugged the touchline with the after burners on that most thought had been extinguished long since.
He picked out Zlatan Ibrahimovic and dinked the return pass over keeper Brad Jones with all the cheek of that memorable night against the Turks in 2004 when he opened his account with a hat trick.
The love affair between the skipper and United's support may have gone through some difficult times since that honeymoon but Old Trafford was smitten again.
It was vintage Rooney.
Just over 11 years since Ruud van Nistelrooy's last European goal for United against Benfica at Old Trafford in '05 the Dutchman was finally dislodged from his number one Euro goalscoring slot for the club as Rooney clipped in his 39th European goal for the club.
Rooney's obviously not the fearless youth any more but just as he enriched Sir Alex Ferguson's Reds back then, so on some occasions United still can't do without flashes of their captain's best.
Possibly that says a bit more about United's eroded status than it does about the 31-year-old having an enduring impact.
United's cutting edge still needs a good sharpen but when Rooney can set up Juan Mata like he did in the 69th minute then you don't have to be that razor sharp.
Again it was Rooney at his best. Collecting Zlatan Ibrahimovic's through ball, it looked like he had eyes in the side of his head as he picked out and cutback a ball for the Spanish midfielder
If these are the twilight years of Rooney then Old Trafford could have witnessed the potential birth of a new hero finally in Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The hottest debates this season have see-sawed between Rooney's dubious form at times, off-field behaviour and what on earth has Mkhitaryan done wrong in Mourinho's eyes?
While Rooney's form has been dissected, United's support have scratched their heads wondering why a £26m summer buy was a virtual outcast.
Mourinho had said the Armenian needed an less stressful platform to show his qualities but with United needing a win to avoid an embarrassing early knockout this was still a tense evening.
But Mkhitaryan produced enough of those qualities to prove he could be a hit after all.
He may have even got a goal to cap his night but when Zlatan Ibrahimovic attempted to put it in his path after 75 minutes, the Swede's ball from the byline hit Feyenoord keeper Brad Jones and deflected in for the third before sub Jesse Lingard made it four in added on time.
United have not had too many problems at home in the Europa League this season but have looked a shaky bunch on their travels.
But with Zorya Luhansk bottom of the pile and out of the tournament, the Reds surely cannot slip up in Odessa next month.
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