How momager Coleen Rooney is laying down the law over Kai’s footie career so he won’t go off rails like wild child Wayne
HE’s been following in his father’s golden footsteps since signing for Manchester United’s Youth Academy in 2020.
And judging by his latest winning streak, Kai Rooney might just have the skills to match dad Wayne’s wonderkid legacy.
The 15-year-old scored two goals in the youth final against Chelsea last week, leading his team to victory in the Premier League National Floodlit Super Cup - having already cemented himself as the one to watch.
But, as his mum knows only too well, a footballer’s path to fame and fortune is paved with temptation and bad influences.
Coleen Rooney, who watched Wayne go off the rails with booze, parties and women after finding footie fame at 16, isn’t taking any chances when it comes to her firstborn.
Speaking exclusively to the Sun, an insider who close to the family tells us that Coleen, 39, is laying down the law, and telling Kai that he’ll have to focus on his studies before he goes pro.
“Kai is already being touted as one to watch and played a big part in Man United winning the Under 15s league,” says a source close to mum-of-four Coleen, who also shares sons Klay, 11, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven, with Wayne, 39.
“He’s being tipped to become a first team player within the next couple of years.
“But Coleen is making sure that he doesn’t rely on it and has told him he has to do his GCSEs next year and still work hard at school as nobody knows what’s going to happen.
“She’s playing a big part in his career though and is making sure he’s well protected and isn’t thrust into the limelight like Wayne was at such a young age.”
It’s safe to say that Coleen has seen the huge downsides of a young footballer’s ragged road to glory.
She herself was catapulted into the spotlight aged 16 when then boyfriend Wayne, also aged 16, went pro for Everton in 2002.
She soon became the UK’s youngest and most photographed Wag, while Wayne skyrocketed to fame as the country’s most celebrated footballer.
Five days before he turned 17, he became the UK’s youngest ever scorer with a last-minute goal against Arsenal and, two months later, he was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
By the time he was 18, he’d already made his professional debut for England, and had also signed a five-year deal with Manchester United, who paid a £30million transfer fee, making him the most expensive signing ever for a player under the age of 20.
As for Coleen, she was there every step of the way, for all the highs and lows.
Deep regrets
The teenage sweethearts got married in 2008 when they were both 23, but their relationship was pushed to the brink a year later when it emerged that Wayne had visited “massage parlours” and solicited prostitutes.
In a public apology, Wayne said at the time: “I now regret [my actions] deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid.”
But his missteps continued - as both Rooneys climbed the ranks of stardom in the public eye.
After the birth of Kai in 2010, it was reported that Wayne had engaged in a threesome with two sex workers while Coleen was pregnant. Coleen briefly moved out of their home, before reconciling with Wayne.
By 2017, they were expecting their fourth child - but old habits die hard. Wayne was arrested for drink-driving after a night out, while driving home so-called “party girl” Laura Simpson.
He was duly slapped with a two-year driving ban and 100 hours of unpaid community service, but his drink-fuelled run-ins with the law didn’t stop there.
My release was alcohol when I was in my early 20s
Wayne Rooney
In 2018, while playing for DC United in America, Wayne was arrested at a Virginia airport for public intoxication and swearing.
He was released on bail, but - a few months later - landed himself in hot water again after being pictured partying late in Florida with a female bartender.
Over the next few years, Wayne’s drinking took an even greater toll on his marriage - which came to a head in 2021, when he was pictured asleep in a hotel room with three women.
The pressures of fame
The former footballer has now cleaned up his act, but his struggles to find his footing since retiring from football in 2021 have also wreaked havoc, as his formerly stellar career has dimmed.
After a short-lived run as head coach for DC United, he became manager of Birmingham FC, but was only in charge for 83 days before being let go.
He then moved on to Plymouth – temporarily relocating to Devon while he assumed the role of manager, but was axed in December.
He’s since been working as a pundit, while making up for lost time at home with Coleen and the boys.
But there’s no denying that Wayne's early megastardom had both positive and negative effects on his career trajectory.
On the positive front, he established himself as one of the most celebrated and wealthiest, footballers in the world.
But, on the downside, the pressure was insurmountable, and Wayne seemed to be chasing the tail of his own legacy.
Add to that his struggles with booze - which he’s said he turned to as a “release” from the pressures of fame - and it’s no surprise that Coleen is not prepared to see Kai go down the same path.
Wayne has acknowledged that he didn’t seek help at the height of his career - and also didn’t have the right tools to help himself, after growing up at warp speed.
Speaking in 2023 to rugby legend Rob Burrow - a year before the latter’s death from Motor Neurone Disease - Wayne explained that the trappings of fame and success had come at a cost.
“My release was alcohol when I was in my early 20s,” he said. “I’d go home, and spend a couple of days at home and not leave the house. I’d drink almost until I’d pass out.
“I didn’t want to be around people, because sometimes you feel embarrassed.
“Sometimes you feel like you’ve let people down and ultimately I didn’t know how else to deal with it.
“When you don’t take the help and guidance of others, you can be really in a low place, and I was for a few years with that. Thankfully, now I’m not afraid to go and speak to people about issues.”
Roo-ling the roost
Evidently, Wayne’s experiences - and the lessons he’s learned - have helped the couple and their kids heal.
But, now that Kai is at the age that Wayne was when he went pro, Coleen doesn’t want to see history repeating itself.
She has also opened up about the concerns she has for Kai, who - despite his prowess - is still facing claims of nepotism and living in the shadow of his surname.
All the boys are obsessed with football, so Coleen’s had no choice but to embrace it.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast in January, Coleen said: “A few years ago, I remember my son Kai took a penalty at St George’s Park, where we were for a tournament.
“It went to penalties. Kai stepped up and just skied it.
“Afterwards, I asked him how he could take a penalty like that, and he told me he was just fuming as the goalkeeper was saying, 'Your dad’s s***', and he got dead angry.
“It doesn’t happen to him very often, but it did then, and you can see in some games where they give you a little push. He’s strong minded though and usually shrugs it off.”
She added that - when it comes to all four of her sons - she’s determined to keep the pressures of being the children of famous parents at bay.
Coleen is determined that Kai will stay grounded, whatever happens
Source
“I think they sometimes get pressure off other people,” she said. “People approach them now and then if we’re out. They do say, ‘Are you as good as your dad?’
“Kai says, ‘I’m a different type of player.’ You’ve got to let them know that they don’t have to follow and to be your own person.”
As our source explains, Coleen is incredibly proud of Kai's prowess on the pitch and is happy to support him in his dreams - but that’s on the condition that he doesn’t put all his eggs in one footie basket.
We’re told she’d ideally like him to finish school at 18. But even if he leaves earlier, she’s insisting he takes his compulsory exams next year, and finishes year 11.
The way she sees it, there’s no harm in broadening his opportunities now, before he’s overwhelmed with all the pressure that comes with being a pro athlete.
“All the boys are obsessed with football, so Coleen’s had no choice but to embrace it,” we’re told. “She wasn’t sure how good they would be, but there’s no denying that Kai has his dad’s talents, and has the potential to make it big.”
Kai, who turns 16 in November, has certainly proven to be a worthy successor to his dad.
The teen signed for the Red Devils academy (Man Utd’s youth team) in 2020, and in his first full season scored 56 goals.
His recent double goal triumph against Chelsea put him front and centre as the team’s star performer.
Taking to Instagram, Wayne and Coleen posted a picture of Kai holding the trophy alongside a joint caption, saying how “proud” they were of his achievements.
They added: “Great comeback from his team last night and an extra time winner always special. Keep working hard son.”
Coleen is determined that Kai will stay grounded, whatever happens
Source
Wayne's family ultimately paid the price for his teenage fame, as he turned to boozing and acting out in hurtful ways, so Coleen is making sure that Kai is supported every step of the way - all under her watchful eye.
After all, fame and fortune isn’t guaranteed, and the only thing worse than the pressure of success is the disappointment of failure.
“Kai is very good, and Coleen and Wayne have always drummed into him that he has to train hard and dedicate himself to it if he wants to make it,” our insider explains.
“But Coleen is determined that he’ll stay grounded, whatever happens. She also knows she’ll have to prepare him for the disappointment if it doesn’t work out.
“The Rooney name will only get him so far.”
Wayne Rooney's record-breaking career
WAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.
He quickly became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club's all-time leading goalscorer.
Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.
As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England's second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.
After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.
He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.
However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.
Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.
Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.
However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.
He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.
