Wayne Rooney has had a spectacular career at the highest level for both club and country. The Manchester United captain is on the verge of smashing the goal scoring records for both United and the Three Lions and has a legion of fans around the globe. But how well do you know your idol?
Let’s look at some of the lesser known facts about the Manchester United Talisman Wayne Rooney:
The Early Days
Wayne Rooney was born in Croxteth, Liverpool, to Thomas Wayne Rooney and Jeanette Marie Rooney. He went to the De La Salle School where his love and passion for the game grew and it wasn’t long until Rooney was spotted and he started training with the Everton Youth Academy, the club Rooney and his brothers Graeme and John had grown up supporting.
Lovestruck
Rooney met Coleen McLaughlin when the two were studying in secondary school. The two lovebirds dated for six years before tying the knot on June 12, 2008. The couple live in their £4 million home with their sons Kai and Klay.
Living life King size!
Wayne Rooney was advised to find a home in the posh locality of Cheshire after he completed his big money move to Manchester United. As it turned out, Rooney happened to pass by a bar in Prestbury which he thought was named ‘Admiral Rooney’ while it was actually named ‘Admiral Rodney’ but he ended up choosing Prestbury anyway.
Rooney’s home, which has been dubbed the Prestbury Palace, is nothing short of a Five Star Hotel: boasting a conservatory, cinema, jacuzzi, swimming pool, more plasma televisions than you can count and a large game room. But here’s the icing on the cake, even the taps and lavatory seats in the washrooms are gold plated!
“The Half Roon”
A famous pub in Manchester, a place with great Manchester United following, decided to change their name from “The Half Moon” to “The Half Roon” to honor Wayne Rooney’s contribution for United.
Driving in the fast lane!
Rooney has a fetish for cars and his enviable collection includes a BMW X5, a Mercedes CLK, an Aston Martin Vanquish, a Porsche 911, a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, a Cadillac Escalade, a Chrysler 300C, an Audi TT, and his personal favorite – an Audi RSG Avant.
And there’s also the Mercedes G55 AMG, which costs a whopping £100,000.
Tryst with Scandals
Rooney allegedly carried on an affair with high-society escort Jennifer Thompson while his wife Coleen was pregnant with his son Kai. The affair lasted for four months way back in 2009, and Wayne stopped meeting her a month before the birth of his child. A pal of Rooney told a tabloid that Rooney, who had been knowing for his frivolous ways after it was revealed he visited a couple of prostitutes in ’04 and frequented a cheap brothel in ’02, said of his latest mistake, “My life is in ruins.. I’ve been so stupid and Coleen will leave this time.” But Coleen decided to forgive him and the couple have lived happily ever since!
On the eve of England’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro, Rooney’s dad Thomas Wayne and his uncle Richie, were arrested on charges of a betting scam in a Scottish Premier League (SPL) match. Rooney was clearly bothered by the off-the-field incidents as he lost his cool and got himself sent off for kicking out at a Montenegro player. This led to Rooney facing a 4-match ban, which was later reduced to 3! As a result, Rooney missed the first two matches for England in the Euros before coming back and scoring against Slovenia.