Wayne Rooney reveals long battle with alcohol; Coleen Rooney's loyalty comes into focus
In a candid interview, the former England captain says his drink problem persisted for two decades and that Coleen stood by him through a string of high-profile incidents.
Wayne Rooney has disclosed that his struggles with alcohol spanned about two decades, a revelation that casts new light on the couple's public life and the pressures of celebrity. In a conversation on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, the former Manchester United and England captain said he was struggling massively with drinking during his playing career and that, without Coleen Rooney by his side, he may not be here today. He told his close friend and former teammate that he honestly believes if she weren't there, he'd be dead, describing how Coleen kept him on a path away from danger even as his life was splintered by headlines and personal missteps.
Rooney's admission comes amid long-running scrutiny of his private life, much of it connected to episodes that unfolded away from the football pitch. Katie Hind, writing for the Daily Mail, notes that the Rooneys' marriage has weathered a string of high-profile incidents linked to his alcohol use and to women seeking to exploit his fame. Hind cites a moment in central London in 2010 when Rooney, fresh from being named Football Writers' Player of the Year, was seen at a hotel bar as two heavily made-up Russian women sat nearby, a scene described as illustrating how a wealthy star can be vulnerable when drinking. The report also references Rooney's past episodes, including a separate incident during his youth when CCTV captured him with escorts after visiting a Liverpool backstreet venue, a scenario that has long shadowed his public image. The focus of Hind's piece, however, emphasizes that Coleen's support—rooted in her knowledge of his demons and the awareness that alcohol-related episodes have often brought out people seeking to take advantage of him—has been a constant through years of scandal.
Rooney also discussed how his drinking affected his career and family. He described a pattern in which two days of heavy drinking would be followed by weekends spent on the pitch and then another cycle of drinking, even as he performed on the field and fulfilled fatherly duties. He said Coleen has helped him control that pattern and has protected their four children Kai, Klay, Kit, and Cass from the fallout. The couple, who grew up in the Croxteth area of Liverpool, has long kept much of their private life out of the spotlight, but public interest remains high as they prepare to appear in a Disney+ fly-on-the-wall documentary about their life at their Cheshire home.
In recounting the broader arc of his troubles, the notes reference a 2017 drink-driving incident after taking an estate agent’s VW Beetle back to her home, an episode that led Coleen to briefly leave their marital home before deciding to stay in the marriage. Friends say Coleen’s loyalty stems from an understanding that alcohol often fuels his scandals because it lowers his defenses and makes him vulnerable to predatory attention. A source close to the family told Hind that many people have wondered over the years why Coleen has remained by Wayne's side, but the explanation lies in her awareness of his demons and her desire to keep their family intact.
Beyond the alcohol story, Rooney’s past public missteps—such as the 2010 nightclub incident in Manchester involving escorts Helen Wood and Jenny Thompson, and the CCTV-documented visit to a Liverpool brothel when he was 18—have been widely reported in tabloid coverage. The new interview frames these episodes within a broader context of his alcohol struggle and Coleen’s ongoing support, painting a portrait of a marriage tested by fame and frailty but held together by loyalty and a shared commitment to their children.
Rooney and Coleen, who grew up in Croxteth and met as teenagers, were married in 2008 in Portofino, Italy, and have four children and have built one of Britain’s best-known celebrity partnerships. They have kept a relatively high profile in recent years, with public interest continuing as they prepare for a Disney+ documentary. While some critics may scrutinize the couple's experiences, friends emphasize that the new disclosures corroborate a longstanding narrative about Coleen's protective role and Wayne's ongoing effort to manage an addiction that has shadowed his career for two decades.