Alex MacQuoid
Wayne Rooney says his wife Coleen played a crucial role in keeping him alive and on track during periods when he was “struggling massively” with alcohol.
The 39-year-old former England and Manchester United captain — who scored a record 253 goals for United and retired from playing in 2021 — told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast that Coleen’s support over the years was lifesaving.
“I honestly believe if she weren’t there I’d be dead,” Rooney said. “I’ve made mistakes in the past which are well documented and whatever but I’m a little bit different at times and she keeps me on that path and she’s done it for 20-odd years.”
Rooney, who has been married to Coleen since 2008, described a pattern of binge drinking during his playing days.
“I wanted to go out and enjoy my time with my friends and have a night out. It got to a point where I went too far – that was a moment in my life where I was struggling massively with alcohol… I just drank for two days straight. Come training and at the weekend, I’d score two goals and then I’d go back and go and drink for two days straight again.”
“She’s helped me control that massively. She’s managed me because I needed managing,” he added.
After retiring in 2021 Rooney moved into management, most recently at Plymouth Argyle, leaving the role in December 2023.
Rooney has previously spoken about the dynamic with Coleen in interviews. In a 2021 BBC Breakfast interview he said he was not an alcoholic but a binge drinker, often drinking heavily over short spells and then masking the effects to carry on working.
“I was more of a binge drinker, where, if I got two days off, I’d literally drink for two days and then dust myself down – eye drops, chewing gum, mouthwash – to go into work… I wasn’t giving the best version of me to my club at times.”
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