Wayne Rooney and Giggs partner for unlikely Palace Skateboards collaboration
The former football star teams up with rapper Giggs for a music-video shoot in London, weeks after discussing his battle with alcoholism and Coleen Rooney's role in his recovery.
Wayne Rooney has teamed up with British rapper Giggs for an unlikely collaboration, filming a music-video segment in South London for Palace Skateboards. The former England captain, 39, was pictured on location on Thursday, smiling between takes as he joined Giggs, 42, on set for the fashion-and-skate crossover project.
Rooney was dressed in a grey Nike jersey bearing the Palace logo and white track pants as Giggs emerged from a building with smoke billowing behind him. The shoot drew a crowd, with Rooney seen speaking to crew members and sharing a light moment with Giggs during breaks.
Also pictured were England women’s captain Leah Williamson, Chelsea’s Reece James, and players Jamie Gittins and Lenna Gunning-Williams, highlighting a high-profile cross between football, culture and fashion. The public gathered to watch the filming, underscoring the growing trend of sport icons appearing in multimedia projects beyond the pitch.
In a separate line of coverage this week, Rooney spoke candidly about his long battle with alcoholism, crediting his wife Coleen for helping save his life. “I honestly believe if she weren’t there I’d be dead,” he told a fellow former teammate. He described their relationship as rooted in their Croxteth upbringing, noting that Coleen recognized his struggles early and helped him manage them as they built a family together. He recalled how, even at 17, she saw the pattern and played a pivotal role in keeping him grounded amid a whirlwind of football fame and nightlife.
Rooney’s post-playing career has evolved beyond the field. He has hosted The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC platforms and remains a regular pundit on Match Of The Day. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Coleen Rooney is set to star in a Disney+ fly-on-the-wall reality series, following a bidding war against Amazon, a development that would offer an intimate look inside the Rooneys’ home life with their four children. Disney+ is reported to have secured the rights for a format that would follow the family in Cheshire, though details remain to be announced.
The Palace Skateboards collaboration marks another chapter in Rooney’s multi-faceted public life, blending sport, fashion and music in a way that has drawn interest from fans and critics alike. The exact release date for the video remains unannounced, but the project has already generated chatter about Rooney’s post-soccer career choices and his ongoing connection to the sport and pop culture.
The shoot occurred despite cold weather, with Rooney and Giggs appearing in casual athletic wear that underscored the laid-back, streetwear aesthetic Palace is known for. At one point, Rooney paused filming to greet another person on Giggs’ phone, sharing a quick moment of camaraderie before returning to the camera.
No further details about the project have been released. The collaboration comes days after Rooney’s frank discussion about his past struggles, a reminder that the former Manchester United standout continues to navigate personal challenges in parallel with his evolving professional life in entertainment and media.