English football legend Wayne Rooney has made a candid confession, revealing that he believes he would have died if not for the unwavering support of his wife, Coleen.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former Manchester United and England striker opened up about his long-standing struggles with alcohol, which escalated during the height of his career. Reflecting on that period, Rooney admitted he would sometimes “drink for two days straight” after games.
“At the time, I’d come in for training, score a couple of goals at the weekend, and then go straight back to drinking for another two days,” the 39-year-old said.
Rooney credited Coleen with stepping in at a critical point in his life, helping him manage both his drinking and his emotional state.
“She helped me control that massively and managed me, because I needed managing,” he said. “I honestly believe, if she weren’t there, I’d be dead.”
Rooney first met Coleen when they were both secondary school students in Liverpool. After six years of dating, they married in 2008 and now share four children together. According to Rooney, Coleen recognized his self-destructive tendencies from a young age.
“When I was 17, she could already see it,” he recalled. “She knew my mind and she knew I was a bit out there. I was obsessed with football, but also loved a night out. She saw that early and helped me rein it in. Not controlled, but helped me control it.”
Rooney also revealed how he tried to cover up his drinking habits during his time under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United—resorting to chewing gum and eye drops to hide the signs.
Over the years, the couple has faced several public challenges, including Rooney’s well-documented struggles with alcohol and multiple incidents involving infidelity. He publicly apologized after a 2017 drink-driving arrest in Cheshire, which resulted in a two-year driving ban and a fine from his then-club Everton. A year later, he was fined again following a public intoxication arrest in the U.S.
Now transitioning into a media career, Rooney recently left his managerial role at Plymouth Argyle. He currently hosts his own BBC podcast and appears regularly as a pundit on Match of the Day.
