LONDON (BN24) — Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has revealed he believes he would be dead today if not for the support of his wife, Coleen Rooney, crediting her with helping him manage a secret struggle with alcohol during his playing career.
The 39-year-old, United’s all-time top scorer and one of England’s most famous footballers, made the confession on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, where he discussed his personal battles off the pitch.
“I honestly believe if she weren’t there, I’d be dead,” Rooney said. “I’ve made mistakes in the past, which are well documented and whatever, but I’m a little bit different at times, and she keeps me on that path, and she’s done it for 20-odd years.”
Rooney, who scored 253 goals for Manchester United and 53 for England, admitted he often went on two-day drinking binges during his playing days, even as he delivered match-winning performances at the weekend.
“I wanted to go out and enjoy my time with my friends and have a night out. It got to a point where I went too far, that was a moment in my life where I was struggling massively with alcohol,” he said. “I didn’t think I could turn to anyone. I didn’t really want to because I didn’t want to put that burden on anyone.”
Despite the heavy drinking, Rooney says he would regularly score goals on match days, only to return to binge drinking immediately after.
Rooney described his wife, Coleen, as the anchor who helped him manage his behavior and ultimately control his drinking.
“She’s helped me control that massively. She’s managed me because I needed managing,” he admitted.
The couple, who began dating as teenagers and married in 2008, have four children together. Coleen has stood by Rooney through multiple controversies, including infidelity allegations and drink-driving incidents.
Rooney also told Ferdinand how he tried to disguise his condition at training sessions after drinking sprees.
“I’d use eye drops, chewing gum, and aftershave to hide the state I was in,” he recalled.
The candid revelations paint a stark picture of the pressures faced by top-level footballers and how those pressures can spiral into destructive habits when left unchecked.
Rooney, now a football manager and pundit, says he has since gained control over his life and habits but still credits Coleen with helping him survive one of the darkest periods of his career.
His openness comes amid growing calls for more mental health and addiction support for players at the highest level of the sport, highlighting a side of professional football rarely seen by fans.
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