Wayne Rooney is arguably the greatest English football talent of the 21st century, and certainly one of its most complex personalities. The all-time top scorer for both Manchester United and the England national team, he has always been surrounded by scandal, myths, and wild stories.
Idman.Biz presents a look into the life and career of the now 40-year-old Wayne Rooney, highlighting fascinating details from his journey.
As a child, Rooney dreamed of becoming a priest: he grew up in a devout Catholic family and attended St. Swithin’s Catholic Primary School.
In high school, his best subject was religious studies. But even then, he showed a fiery temperament, once kicking a hole in the school lab wall after someone took his football away, earning a two-day suspension.
At 14, he nearly quit football to pursue boxing, but his youth coach persuaded him to stay on the pitch. Around the same age, Rooney served as Everton’s team mascot, and five years later, he was playing for their first team. His first agent, Peter McIntosh, signed him to a £2,000-a-year deal with Umbro that included a full equipment set. At Everton, Rooney’s initial weekly wage was just £75, less than his friends made working construction.
Even as a teenager, he showed unusual discipline: studying Black history and religion to better understand his teammates and secretly praying before matches to avoid injury.
After joining Manchester United, Rooney faced hostility from Everton fans who sent him threats, while manager David Moyes had to teach him social etiquette. He celebrated early goals quietly at home with Chinese takeout and once resolved a dispute with club legend John Terry by sending him a signed shirt as an apology.
Off the field, Rooney had peculiar habits: he slept with a hairdryer on, visualized game moments before bed, and after scoring, often played football behind the garages near his future wife Coleen’s house.
In marriage, he kept his passion for music and literature, writing poems and short stories.
Rooney endured his share of struggles, drinking heavily to cope with pressure, losing large sums in casinos, and battling injuries. Yet his discipline, deep love for football, and obsessive attention to detail ultimately shaped him into a true legend of English football. His journey from mischievous schoolboy to record-breaking icon remains a story of resilience and devotion to the game.
