Wayne Rooney: "I Would Have Been Dead If Not for My Wife"

English football legend Wayne Rooney has spoken candidly about his struggles with alcohol during his playing career, crediting his wife Coleen with saving his life. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast alongside former England and Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, Rooney said that at the peak of his career his routine involved coming to training and then at weekends, after scoring goals, going away and drinking for two days straight.

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Rooney recalled meeting Coleen when both were secondary school students in Liverpool and marrying her in 2008 after six years of dating, noting she recognised his tendencies early: "When I was 17, she could see, she knew my mind and she knew I was a bit out there... she's seen it very early on and she's controlled that. Well, not controlled, but helped me control that massively." He also revealed he would attempt to hide drinking sessions from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson by chewing gum and using eye drops. The couple, who have four children, have faced several public incidents over the years involving Rooney's infidelity and alcohol use, including a 2017 drink-driving arrest in Cheshire for which he pleaded guilty and was banned from driving for two years. He was also arrested for public intoxication in the US in 2018. Having recently left his role as head coach at Plymouth Argyle, Rooney now hosts a BBC podcast and works as a Match of the Day pundit.