Football prodigies are often thrust into the spotlight at a very young age, before they are quite ready to deal with all aspects of instant stardom. Not everyone is well-equipped to take care of themselves, and need someone close to ensure that they don’t stray into unwanted territory.
Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene for Everton at the age of 16 and went on to become one of the best players of his generation, and is now considered a Manchester United and England legend. But he would have strayed from the straight and narrow subsequently had it not been for the contribution of his wife Coleen.
The two first met while they were at school and married in 2008. Rooney credits her in helping him deal with his alcohol problem and possibly even saving his life.
Admitting that he “struggled massively” with his battle with the bottle, Rooney admitted that “I honestly believe if she weren’t there, I’d be dead.”
Talking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former forward, who retired from playing in 2021, told his fellow former Manchester United stalwart that there was hardly anyone who he could have turned to.
“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,” the 39-year-old said.
“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.”
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Describing himself in that phase of his life as a “binge drinker”, Rooney said: “I was never an alcoholic. 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 and then have to run around a pitch and train. I wasn’t giving the best version of me to my club at times.”
That was before Coleen made the crucial intervention in his life.
“I didn’t think I could turn to anyone. I didn’t really want to because I didn’t want to put that burden on anyone. She (Coleen) helped me control that massively. She’s managed me because I needed managing.”
Things have changed since and Rooney stressed that having someone close to share one’s issues with helps considerably in these matters.
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“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. I’ve spoken to people. It helped. You let your feelings out. I didn’t do that – I held them in and then it builds up,” he added.
