Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old prodigy at Everton and went on to become Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer. After a mixed spell in management and a move into broadcasting, the former England captain is now heading somewhere few footballers of his stature have gone: the jungle of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, which starts on November 16, 2026.
| Full name | Wayne Mark Rooney |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | October 24, 1985 |
| Age | 41 (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Croxteth, Liverpool, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Former footballer and manager, BBC pundit and podcast host |
| Clubs (player) | Everton, Manchester United, D.C. United, Derby County |
| Manchester United | 253 goals, the club’s all-time record |
| England | 120 caps, 53 goals |
| Height | 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in (according to Wikipedia) |
| Spouse | Coleen Rooney (married 2008) |
| Children | Four sons |
Early Life
Wayne Mark Rooney was born on October 24, 1985, in Croxteth, a working-class district of Liverpool. He grew up an Everton supporter and came through the club’s youth ranks, where his raw power and fearless style quickly marked him out as something special.
It was also in Croxteth that he met Coleen McLoughlin. The two knew each other from secondary school, long before either of them became a fixture of the British tabloids, and their relationship has run through almost every chapter of his public life since.
Career
What sets Rooney apart is the range of his career rather than any single moment. He was a teenage phenomenon, then a club record-breaker, then a national captain, then a coach in two countries, and now a broadcaster. Few English players of his era have tried their hand at so many roles in public, or been so open about the ones that did not work out.
2002-2004: Everton’s teenage sensation
Rooney made his senior debut for Everton on August 17, 2002, aged 16, in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. Two months later he announced himself to the whole country. On October 19, 2002, five days before his 17th birthday, he scored a last-minute winner against Arsenal, turning a promising kid into a national talking point overnight.
His rise was so fast that bigger clubs were circling within two seasons. In 2004, Manchester United signed him for a reported £20 million plus add-ons.
2004-2017: Manchester United’s record scorer
Few debuts have matched his. On September 28, 2004, Rooney scored a hat-trick and added an assist in a 6-2 Champions League win over Fenerbahçe. It set the tone for 13 seasons at Old Trafford.
At United he won five Premier League titles, the 2008 Champions League, the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup (where he took the Golden Ball), the 2016 FA Cup and the 2017 Europa League. His best individual season came in 2009-10, when he was named both PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year. By the time he left, he had scored 253 goals in all competitions, more than anyone else in the club’s history.
England: captain and record-breaker
Rooney’s England career was every bit as long. He won 120 caps and scored 53 goals, and was named captain by Roy Hodgson in 2014. From 2015 he was England’s all-time top scorer, a record he held until Harry Kane scored his 54th international goal against Italy in March 2023. Rooney announced his retirement from international football on August 23, 2017, and returned for one farewell appearance against the United States at Wembley in November 2018.
2017-2021: Everton return, MLS and Derby
In July 2017, Rooney went home to Everton on a two-year deal, before crossing the Atlantic to join D.C. United in June 2018. In Washington he scored 23 goals in 48 regular-season MLS games. He then returned to England as a player-coach at Derby County, making his debut in January 2020. A year later, on January 15, 2021, he hung up his boots and became the club’s permanent manager, a role he held until resigning in June 2022.
2022-2024: a hard road in management
Management has been the toughest chapter of his career. He went back to D.C. United as head coach in July 2022 and left in October 2023. Days later he took over at Birmingham City, but was sacked on January 2, 2024, after winning just two of his 15 games. A spell at Plymouth Argyle followed from May 2024, ending by mutual agreement on December 31, 2024.
2025-present: broadcaster and personality
After three difficult jobs in just over two years, Rooney has shifted his focus to the media, where his blunt, first-hand view of the game has found a natural audience. He joined the BBC’s football coverage as a pundit, including Match of the Day, and fronts The Wayne Rooney Show, a weekly BBC Sport podcast for the 2025/26 season, with co-hosts Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd. It is available on BBC Sounds, iPlayer and YouTube.
What’s New in 2026
On November 11, 2026, ITV confirmed Rooney as the headline name of the 26th series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, alongside ten other campmates including Paralympian Ade Adepitan, actress Joanna Page and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson. The show begins at 9pm on Monday, November 16, on ITV1 and ITVX. You can read the full line-up in our news story on Wayne Rooney leading the I’m A Celebrity 2026 cast.
The jungle is familiar territory for the family. His wife Coleen took part in the 2024 series and finished as runner-up to Danny Jones. Asked about his biggest fear, Rooney named “jumping out of a helicopter,” adding: “But I hope I do that, because then I will have conquered that fear,” according to PinkNews. Speaking ahead of the show, he also said, “I hope people will see me for who I am,” as reported by SPORTbible via the Liverpool Echo.
His former England teammate Alan Shearer told Betfair that Rooney is “excited” and “in great shape,” but revealed that his friend admitted to being claustrophobic, which could make some of the trials a real test.
The 2026 series has also drawn attention for another reason: Ade Adepitan will be the first wheelchair user to take part in the show’s history, and producers are adapting the camp so he can move around independently. Other names in camp include Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu, broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, YouTuber Sharky of Beta Squad and former Love Island finalist Chloe Burrows, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly back as hosts. Bookmakers quickly made Rooney one of the early favorites to be crowned King of the Jungle.
Personal Life
Rooney married Coleen McLoughlin on June 12, 2008, after six years together. The religious ceremony took place at the Abbey of Cervara, near Genoa in Italy. The couple have four sons. The family usually keeps the children out of the spotlight, and we have chosen not to name them here.
Coleen has built her own media profile over the years, notably with her run on I’m A Celebrity in 2024. Rooney has also published several books, including his 2006 autobiography My Story So Far and My Decade in the Premier League (2012).
Like David Beckham before him, Rooney has become a household name well beyond football, which is exactly what ITV is counting on this winter.
Net Worth
Wayne Rooney’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, and he has never confirmed a figure. Some reference points do exist. In 2012, his reported income of $32.6 million ranked him fifth among the world’s highest-paid footballers, according to figures cited by Wikipedia. His 2006 book deal with HarperCollins reportedly came with a £5 million advance.
His recent media fees remain unconfirmed. The Sun reported in 2025 that his BBC deal was worth £800,000, but FourFourTwo said it understood that figure to be inaccurate. For I’m A Celebrity, a source quoted by The Sun spoke of “a chunky six-figure sum”; ITV has not confirmed any amount.
FAQ
How old is Wayne Rooney?
Wayne Rooney was born on October 24, 1985, so he is 41 years old in November 2026.
Is Wayne Rooney in I’m A Celebrity 2026?
Yes. ITV confirmed him in the line-up on November 11, 2026. The series starts on Monday, November 16, at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
How many goals did Wayne Rooney score for Manchester United?
He scored 253 goals in all competitions, the club’s all-time record.
Who is Wayne Rooney’s wife?
He has been married to Coleen Rooney (née McLoughlin) since June 12, 2008. She was runner-up on I’m A Celebrity in 2024.
How many children does Wayne Rooney have?
Wayne and Coleen Rooney have four sons.
How tall is Wayne Rooney?
Wikipedia lists his height as 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in).
Sources
- Wikipedia: Wayne Rooney
- PinkNews: I’m A Celebrity 2026 line-up confirmed by ITV
- Capital XTRA: I’m A Celeb 2026 full line-up and start date
- SPORTbible: Rooney’s feelings about entering I’m A Celebrity
- Heart: I’m A Celebrity highest-paid 2026 star
- Wikipedia: I’m a Celebrity series 24
- Broadcast: BBC kicks off The Wayne Rooney Show
- FourFourTwo: Rooney lands TV role
- Sky Sports: Kane breaks Rooney’s England record
- The FA: Wayne Rooney retires from international football