Coleen Rooney - 'I was wise for my age but had to grow up fast'

Coleen Rooney is a woman who takes everything in her stride
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Coleen Rooney is a woman who takes everything in her stride. Married to former Everton, Manchester United and England legend Wayne, mum to four energetic boys and a canny businesswoman, life is certainly busy. And to top it off, she’s single-handedly running the household while Wayne is away managing Championship team Plymouth Argyle.

Sitting down with OK!, in a rare interview, she lifts the lid on their long-distance relationship and how they keep their 22-year romance alive. “We get to see Wayne a couple of times a week, which is good,” tells Coleen, 38. “He went to America, so this is a bonus – even though it seems like far away, it’s easier to get to than Washington DC.

Coleen Rooney
Coleen is a television personality and the wife of footballer Wayne Rooney -Credit:OK!

“There’s lots of FaceTime and he always phones when we’re going out of the door in the morning. I’m like, ‘Just wait till we’re in the car. I’ve got no time.’”

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The family are currently spending lots of time apart due to Wayne’s job – with Wayne, 38, on the south coast and Coleen and the kids at their Cheshire home. Coleen reveals that she considered a move to be nearer to him, but ruled it out because of the kids.

“We thought long and hard about it [moving to Devon], but with the kids it didn’t work. Kai’s now in year 10, just starting GCSE prep, and things are going well with football. The other boys are all settled at school, so it didn’t seem fair on them to pick them up, take them away and start in a whole new place. It’s manageable. It’s life. Other couples and families have similar situations and have to get on with it.

“Being a mum of four is just hectic. The key thing is I’m really organised. Preparation is key and just to make sure everything’s done beforehand. I think that is my main strength.”

Coleen, Wayne and their 4 kids
Coleen is mum to 4 boys -Credit:Instagram

Laughing off suggestions that she’s sending care packages down to Wayne to ensure he’s eating healthily, she says, “My mum said that to me last night. I was like, ‘Oh no, I’ve got no time to do that for him when I’ve got all the kids at home!’”

When she and Wayne do get together, they love nothing more than enjoying a gig – or just sitting on the sofa and catching up. “We love a concert,” says Coleen. “That’s probably one of our favourite things to do – to go to a concert, just us or with friends. We also like a night in, just sitting in front of the telly catching up on things. We always try and make time for each other, no matter what. We’ve always done that, and I think that’s what has kept a good ongoing relationship.”

WAYNE ROONEY AND COLEEN McLOUGHLIN WEDDING FROM OK! UK ISSUE 628
Wayne and Coleen got married in 2008 -Credit:PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WARD AND ABI WYLES OK! SYNDICATION

Despite her jam-packed life, there’s not a glimmer of stress or panic when Coleen arrives for our interview, just a steely resolve that’s been built up over the years.

Thrust into the spotlight at just 16 when her childhood sweetheart Wayne piqued the interest of the world with his impressive skills on the football pitch, Coleen had to grow up fast.

The very public trials and tribulations Coleen has gone through since then have left us all feeling as if we know her like one of our friends. She was one of the most talked about women in the world in the midst of her 2022 libel court battle – dubbed the Wagatha Christie trial. When the case concluded, in Coleen’s favour, she retreated quietly to her family.

Now, Liverpool-born Coleen is ready to step out into the spotlight again. The dramas of recent years have been left behind and Coleen wants to focus on the future.

Coleen Rooney
Coleen is opening up on her new business venture -Credit:SPECIAL PRICE. POSITIVE USAGE ONLY.

Coleen lights up with every mention of her family, particularly her four sons – Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and six-year-old Cass. Proudly sharing their interests, she tells us, “They are very sporty boys, but my younger two also enjoy music. One of them is learning guitar, the other is learning piano, and both of them drums.

“The two older ones are football mad, and my eldest, he loves speaking Spanish at the minute and is into this Spanish rap. So he’s doing that all over the house. Our home is even noisier!”

Kai is following in his dad’s footsteps and is at Manchester United’s academy, alongside his brother Klay. So what’s it like trying to follow in the footsteps of one of the world’s best players?

Coleen Rooney
Coleen has a busy life but still makes time for herself -Credit:Applied Nutrition

“We’ve never pressured them into even playing football,” she insists. “We’ve always just let them decide what they want to do, and it’s OK if they don’t want to do it. My eight-year-old was playing, and was doing really well, but then decided he didn’t want to, and that’s OK. I think they sometimes get pressure from other people. People approach them now and then if we’re out. They say, ‘Are you as good as your dad?’ Kai says, ‘I’m a different type of player.’

“It’s important they follow their own dreams and journey. Wayne and I are there to support them no matter what they choose to do.”

Looking at Kai, who is soon to turn 15, Coleen is reminded of her younger self. The now famous first picture of her at 16, dressed in her uniform after a day at school, catapulted her into the public sphere and made her a household name.

Everyone wanted to know who she was, the girlfriend of England’s most promising football talent, who caught the nation’s attention after coming off the bench to score a last minute winner for Everton against Arsenal, aged 16.

“I was wise for my age, but I did have to grow up fast. But looking back, 16 was really young,” she recalled. “Very young.

Coleen Rooney and her husband Wayne leaving the High Court
Coleen was in a 2022 libel court battle with Rebekah Vardy -Credit:Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images

“I wouldn’t say I am more protective of Kai, I would say it opens your eyes that things can happen young, and to make
them aware.

“Back in the day, when Wayne was coming up, he wasn’t on social media, whereas now there’s a lot more of that, and that’s where you’ve got to prepare the kids for if they do go on to be successful.

“But the football academy [they are in], and school as well, they have workshops and they prepare the kids for what you should and shouldn’t do on social media. It’s always good to nip it in the bud earlier than later.”

There’s another family member who will always remain a part of Coleen’s life, and that’s her sister Rosie, who had Rett Syndrome and died in 2013 aged 14.

“She always had a smile on her face,” remembers Coleen. “She will always live on with us. My children speak about her because we just talk about it all the time. She was special.”

Coleen’s schedule is about to get busier as she embarks on an ambassador role for supplements brand Applied Nutrition. She’s now the face of the Liverpool-based global business.

Coleen Rooney wife of football player and manager Wayne Rooney pictured at The Langham, central London being interviews by Janine Yaqoob.
Coleen is an ambassador for Collagen -Credit:Applied Nutrition

“Applied Nutrition products are fantastic quality and just make you feel better,” she says. “Next year we are looking at bringing out my own range with Applied Nutrition, which is so exciting. The range will be based on the needs of females. It’s really important for women to look after themselves. A lot of us have a busy lifestyle, whether it be looking after children, working – life is hectic for most people.

“I used to skip breakfast, so now I’ll have a protein shake every morning and I’ll include the collagen in that. It gives me energy – and also we all want to look young forever!”

Fresh-faced and glowing, dressed in a muted animal print top and cardigan set, jeans and kitten heels for our interview, Coleen looks subtle yet polished.

She’s not football flashy, as you might expect from a WAG – a tag Coleen herself isn’t a fan of. Instead she’s down-to-earth, relatable, normal, while being at total ease in the five-star luxury of The Langham’s plush Cavendish Suite.

Wayne Rooney and Coleen Rooney attend the Premier League Hall of Fame 2022
Wayne and Coleen are proud parents to their children -Credit:Getty

Switching between gym gear and jeans with minimum effort for our shoot, it’s clear Coleen is in her comfort zone. “I spend my life in leggings,” she smiles, brushing off any preconceptions she spends her life dressed to the nines. “I find it hard to get dressed up. I’m mostly in gym wear.” It’s the uniform she wears most days as she’s rushing around after her family. So what does a typical day in the life of Coleen look like?

“My alarm goes off at six, I get a shower and get ready, get the boys up at half six,” she tells. “Then we have four different breakfasts to make.

“After that it’s teeth, washed, dressed. We usually aim to leave at 7.45am for the school run and then I try and get to either a reform Pilates class or the gym, depending on what I’ve got on.

Manchester United football player Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen watch the racing during the first day of the Aintree
Wayne and Coleen are working on continuing to build their businesses and family life -Credit:Getty

“Then it’s a meeting or some type of work. Then after school football, or whatever they’ve got on. The ones who aren’t doing the activity are doing homework in the car. We get home at 8.30pm some nights. Then it’s bath, bed, and then we go again. We’re exhausted just hearing about it. But it doesn’t faze Coleen, who has got the juggle down to a fine art.

“I’ve got a house of four boys – well five boys,” she laughs, in a cheeky quip about Wayne. “I’m always on the go, doing something.”