Wayne Rooney recalls awkward Louis van Gaal remark to wife Coleen at players' lunch
Rooney says former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal told Coleen Rooney ‘‘he has very strong sperm’’ at their first meeting and later reflected on Van Gaal’s personality and his 2016 FA Cup exit
Wayne Rooney has recounted an awkward first encounter between his wife, Coleen, and former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, saying the Dutch coach made a startling remark about their children during a players’ lunch.
Rooney, speaking on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, said Van Gaal approached Coleen at a team lunch with players, partners and staff and told her, "your children, they look very much like the father," to which she replied "yeah," before Van Gaal added, "he has very strong sperm." Rooney said the exchange was taken in good humour and that he found Van Gaal "so funny, such a good character."
Van Gaal, 74, managed Manchester United from 2014 to 2016. Rooney made 79 appearances under the Dutchman, scored 29 goals and was named captain on Van Gaal’s arrival. Rooney said he learned a great deal from Van Gaal as a coach, calling him "different and funny" and adding, "I probably learned more from him than I did from anyone else."
Despite the rapport between player and manager, Van Gaal’s results fell short of the club’s expectations. He was dismissed two days after United beat Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup in the 2015-16 season, a match Jesse Lingard sealed with a late extra-time goal as United played with 10 men. Rooney described Van Gaal as subdued during the Cup celebrations after being informed of his impending departure.
"We won the cup, we had the after party. Louis was stood over with his wife and a couple of friends and he was very quiet, that's just weren't him," Rooney said. He added that Van Gaal continued to perform his duties until the end, calling it "really sad" to see a manager with such a big personality subdued at what should have been a high point.
Rooney also recounted that Van Gaal required the squad to meet the next morning despite the celebrations, handing out individual schedules and expectations for the off-season while still fulfilling his role. "Fair play to him, he stuck to his job until it was confirmed he was sacked," Rooney said.
Rooney’s remarks underscore the complex relationship players can have with managers who combine strong personalities with strict professional standards. Van Gaal’s two seasons delivered an FA Cup and several notable performances, but the club’s failure to secure Champions League qualification and inconsistent league form contributed to his dismissal despite the trophy.
The anecdote adds to the public record of Van Gaal’s outspoken manner and Rooney’s continued reflection on his playing career. Rooney remains Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer and has frequently discussed his time at Old Trafford, including the influences of various managers on his development as a player and captain.