Rooney credits Coleen with saving his life as he opens up about alcoholism during Scottish getaway

Wayne Rooney has enjoyed a relaxing break in Scotland with his wife Coleen, after revealing he would be dead if not for her support during his battle with alcoholism. The former England and Manchester United star posted snapshots from a trip to Gleneagles, a five‑star hotel, spa and golf resort, showing him and Coleen strolling together before they joined former teammates for dinner.

Rooney’s posts also highlighted a gathering with Michael Carrick and Darren Gibson and their spouses, Lisa Roughhead and Danielle Gibson, with Rooney captioning the moments as a “Brilliant few days in Scotland with great company.” Danielle Gibson later shared images of the group’s wives posing for a selfie as they prepared for a clay pigeon shoot, adding a caption about venturing outside their comfort zones at Gleneagles.

In a broader interview, Rooney spoke with his former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand about the depths of his drinking problem. He recalled a time in his early years when he simply wanted to enjoy time with friends, but the pattern escalated to a point where he was “drinking for two days straight” before training. He described trying to conceal the binge with eye drops, chewing gum and aftershave, explaining that he would still return to form on the pitch only to fall back into heavy drinking at the weekend.

“I honestly believe if she weren’t there I’d be dead,” Rooney said of Coleen, as he outlined how she helped him manage his demons over two decades. He credited her with recognizing his struggles early and having a stabilizing influence, saying, “She’s seen it very early on and she’s controlled that. Well, not controlled but helped me control that massively.” He praised her ongoing support, noting that she has kept him on the right path for around 20 years, despite the couple’s shared history from their youth in Croxteth.

The couple’s personal story traces back to their childhood in Liverpool. Wayne and Coleen met when they were about 12 and began dating at 16; they wed in 2008 and have four children—Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six. Their relationship has been tested by high‑profile scrutiny, including cheating allegations Rooney faced in his late teens and early adulthood. In 2004, when he was 18 and newly moved to Manchester United, reports claimed he had engaged with sex workers, a chapter that Coleen publicly confronted with resilience.

Coleen Rooney has publicly addressed the family’s trials in various forums. In a 2023 Amazon Prime documentary detailing her husband’s life and football career, she discussed the balancing act of staying in the marriage for the sake of their children, acknowledging the pressure from outsiders while emphasizing the importance of family. She has said she leaned on her own parents for support during difficult moments and stressed the need to focus on what matters most for their children rather than responding to external judgments. The couple has repeatedly framed their partnership around mutual support, forgiveness and long‑term commitment even as they navigate public attention.

Images from Gleneagles show Rooney enjoying time with Coleen and friends, reflecting a period of reflection and recovery for the former striker as he continues to discuss his alcohol battle and the role his wife has played in his life. The public conversation around his sobriety and family life continues to unfold, illustrating how personal reconciliation and public transparency intersect in the realm of sports culture.