Former Rangers wonderkid John Fleck, once hailed by David Beckham as having a 'real chance' after comparisons to Wayne Rooney, now plies his trade in League Two with Chesterfield. Beckham's praise came after a 2009 friendly between Rangers and AC Milan, where the then-17-year-old Fleck impressed against a star-studded Milan side featuring Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldinho and Beckham himself.
Fleck shunned the Rooney comparisons at the time, telling Sky Sports in 2010 that 'people definitely expected too much of me'. He acknowledged that Rooney was a world-class player and urged patience, but did go on to enjoy success at Rangers, winning three league titles and the 2008 Scottish Cup before moving to Coventry City in 2012.
His career highlight came at Sheffield United, where he was a key figure under Chris Wilder as the club rose from League One to the Premier League and finished ninth in the 2019/20 season. After 278 appearances for the Blades, Fleck had a brief spell at Blackburn Rovers before joining Chesterfield in 2024.
Now 34, Fleck has made 10 appearances for Chesterfield this season and had his contract extended after 20 matches last term. Despite not reaching Rooney's heights, he forged a career that would be the envy of many, including earning five caps for Scotland, the first coming in 2019.
