IT’S safe to say Wayne Rooney has been in the doghouse more times than Lassie.
But while the former footballer’s track record for days-long boozing and playing off the field is well documented, little has been said about why his eternally patient wife Coleen has
Coleen Rooney has repeatedly forgiven husband Wayne Rooney
Wayne has crediting his patient wife for saving his life when his drinking got out of control
The football star had to stick to his wife’s strict rule, which saw him allowed to drink and party but only when she’s around
Now, Wayne himself has weighed in — crediting her for saving his life and bringing him back from the brink when his
Speaking on his friend podcast this week, the dad-of-four “for two days straight” at the peak of his career, and would try to hide the stench of from his team-mates with aftershave and chewing gum.
But it was Coleen who proved to be key to his recovery, as Wayne admitted: “I honestly believe if she weren’t there, I’d be dead.”
As far as Coleen is concerned, by taking responsibility for his misdemeanours and crediting his and happiness to her proves they have closed the chapter on his old, reckless behaviour once and for all.
‘It’s very rare that I’m proud of myself’
It comes after a period of time where they have spent more time than ever together, with Wayne sticking to Coleen’s one rule: He can drink and party, but only when she’s around.
Our insider said: “ is glad that Wayne has spoken out about this as it shows he’s not afraid to admit he was in trouble, and acknowledge everything she’s done.
“Like him, she fully believes that he would have had a completely different path in life if they hadn’t been together or she had left him when he cheated.
“She never felt he had to get completely sober, as they enjoy going out as a couple and having a few drinks, but she only trusts him to drink with her or at parties in their house.
“That way, he can’t do anything stupid in public or get taken advantage of.”
Wayne’s wild ways played out in public ever since he was catapulted to stardom aged 16 as a pro for .
Five days before he turned 17, he became the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer. Two months later, he was named Young Sports Personality of the Year.
At 18, he’d already made his professional debut for , and had also signed a five-year deal with United, making him the most expensive under-20 signing ever.
Meanwhile, Coleen was with him every step of the way, transforming from a shy and unassuming teen, pictured like a deer-in-headlights in her school uniform in 2002, to a glam Wag.
By the time of the 2006 World Cup, it was Coleen who stood front and centre as she strode through the German town of Baden-Baden, flanked by the fellow (then Cole), , Alex Curran and Ellen Rivas.
They married in 2008 when they were both 23 with a £5million Italian wedding.
But in 2004, it emerged that Wayne had visited “massage parlours” and prostitutes.
In a public apology, Wayne said: “I now regret [my actions] deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid.”
Yet as he got older, the mistakes continued.
She never felt he had to get completely sober, as they enjoy going out as a couple and having a few drinks, but she only trusts him to drink with her or at parties in their house
Insider
A year after the birth of their first son Kai in 2009, it was reported that Wayne had a threesome with two sex workers while Coleen was pregnant. She briefly moved out of their home before reconciling with Wayne.
By 2017, they were expecting their fourth child — but Wayne was arrested for drink-driving after a night out while home so-called “party girl” .
He was duly slapped with a two-year driving ban and 100 hours of unpaid community service. Meanwhile, Coleen moved out of their mansion.
Later explaining why she had taken him back, she posted on Facebook: “It’s my decision. Do I love Wayne? Yes, I do.
“If I didn’t then I wouldn’t be trying to make it work. I know I would be fine on my own, with just me and my children, but I don’t want to live like that,
“I want to try and continue our and live as a family, because that’s what I want to do.
“I’m not saying everything is fine and forgotten about, but we are as good as can be at this point. I’m not the type of person to put a show on and say we’re all loved-up. l’m just real.”
Yet Wayne’s drink-fuelled run-ins with the continued.
In 2018, while playing for United DC in the US, at a Virginia airport for public intoxication and swearing. He was released on bail — but a few months later was pictured partying with a barmaid.
Things came to a head in 2021 when he was pictured asleep in a hotel room with three women.
Every single time, the same pattern has emerged: Take Coleen out of the picture and Wayne self-destructs.
Our insider said: “Coleen went on more than Judith Chalmers — and it was always then that Wayne lost control with his boozing and sexploits. Now they’re together more, there’s much less opportunity for him to behave badly.”
Wayne explained this week: “I didn’t think I could turn to anyone. I didn’t want to put that burden on anyone.
“Coleen is massive. When I was 17 she could see, she knew my mind and she knew I was a bit out there.
Rooney pictured looking worse for wear
Wayne’s wild ways played out in public ever since he was catapulted to stardom aged 16 as a pro for Everton, the couple pictured aged 18
“You know, I loved my , obsessed with football, but I also loved a night out.”
It seems Coleen — who has sons Kai, 15, Klay, 12, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven, with Wayne — had no choice but to pick up the pieces each time, lay down the law and brace herself for the alternative.
But it’s no coincidence that Wayne has cleaned up his act in the past few years, coinciding with a huge change in their successes and dynamics.
Coleen found her voice when she went to war against and won the Wagatha Christie libel battle in 2022.
From then on, the salt-of-the-earth scouser proved to her fans that she wasn’t just a holiday-loving, designer label queen. She was a fierce and protective family woman.
In 2023 she duly fronted her own Disney+ series, released memoir My Account, and graced the digital cover of . Speaking to the glossy mag, she said of Wayne: “We’ve had our ups and downs. Obviously everybody knows. It’s been hard to go through it in the public eye but there has always been love there.
“If the love is gone then it’s pointless. But if not, you’ve got something to work for.”
“Wayne has never looked for the spotlight. He would have loved to just play football and not have the fame thing.”
Last year, Coleen took another step towards cementing her own identity.
Taking part in I’m A Celebrity to massive public acclaim, she ended up coming second.
“I’m a proud mum, proud wife, I’m a proud daughter,” she said tearfully ahead of the finale.
I honestly believe if she weren’t there, I’d be dead
Wayne
“You know, it’s very rare that I’m proud of myself.
“I think being alone as well and not having any of the distractions, it’s very rare that I put myself first.”
Meanwhile, as Coleen’s career has soared, Wayne’s experienced the flip side of the coin.
He left the post of manager at in 2022 before a short-lived run as head coach for United DC — and his managerial role at Birmingham FC lasted only 83 days.
Then, last December, he was
But the upshot is that Wayne ended up spending more time at home with his boys and Coleen.
And he’s now looking towards a brighter second chapter in broadcasting as a pundit and coaching.
Coleen said earlier this year: “It’s great now that Wayne’s back home as well]. Wayne will do the school run, and I’ll get an early gym session in.”
As Wayne approaches his 40th birthday next month, the Rooney brood seem to be stronger than ever.
Though he’s been in the doghouse, like Lassie, Wayne always come home.
Wayne Rooney's record-breaking career
WAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.
He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.
As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.
After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.
He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.
However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.
Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.
Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.
However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.
He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.
