I Would Have Been Dead If Not For My Wife – Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney, a renowned English football icon, has admitted that he believes he would not be alive today if his wife, Coleen, had not intervened to help him address his struggles with alcohol.

During an appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former Manchester United and England star confided in his friend and ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand, revealing that at the height of his career, he would “drink for two days straight.”

Reflecting on that time, the 39-year-old described his routine: “come training and at the weekend I’d score two goals and then I’d go back and go and drink for two days straight again.”

He praised his wife for taking action to manage his behavior. “She helped me control that massively and managed me because I needed managing,” Rooney said, emphasizing, “I honestly believe, if she weren’t there, I’d be dead.”

Rooney reminisced about meeting Coleen when they were secondary school students in Liverpool and tying the knot in 2008 after six years of dating. He noted that she recognized his struggles early on.

“When I was 17, she could see, she knew my mind and she knew I was a bit out there,” he said. “I loved my football, obsessed with football, but also I loved a night out or whatever, going out. She’s seen it very early on and she’s controlled that. Well, not controlled, but helped me control that massively.”

Rooney also shared that while playing for Manchester United, he would try to conceal his drinking sessions from manager Sir Alex Ferguson by using chewing gum and eye drops.

The couple, parents to four children, have navigated several publicized incidents involving Rooney’s infidelity and alcohol use, for which he has issued public apologies. Notably, in 2017, he was arrested for drink-driving in Cheshire, pleaded guilty, and was banned from driving for two years and fined by his then-club, Everton. The following year, he was arrested for “public intoxication” in the US and paid a fine.

Having recently stepped down as head coach at Plymouth Argyle, Rooney now hosts his own BBC podcast and serves as a pundit on Match Of The Day.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli