Rooney unsure all four sons will follow him into professional football

Wayne Rooney has admitted he is uncertain whether all four of his sons will make it as professional footballers, offering a whispered “I don’t know” when pressed on the subject by The Guardian.

The Manchester United and England legend, who scored 313 goals in 764 career appearances and earned 120 England caps, is understandably wary of heaping pressure on his children. His eldest, Kai, 16, is the only one to have signed a full-time football contract so far, currently playing for United’s youth academy after securing a Puma sponsorship deal at the age of 12. Kai has already been playing above his age group, scoring twice and registering one assist in the U18 Premier League.

Klay, 13, is also in the United academy alongside his older brother, while Kit, 10, and Cass, eight, are said to be showing early promise. In the upcoming documentary, Rooney is seen coaching all four boys and joining them for informal kickabouts at home.

Rooney’s own fame has not always made the parenting journey straightforward. His wife Coleen, during her appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2024, revealed that Wayne was effectively asked by Kai to stop attending his grassroots matches because the crowds that gathered around him made it impossible to actually watch the game. “He just said, ‘Oh, dad, there’s no point you coming because you don’t even watch me play anyway,’” Coleen recalled. “Which is sad, but it can’t be helped.”

The candid exchange is part of a broader portrait of the Rooney family set to be explored in The Real Rooneys, a ten-episode documentary series premiering on Thursday, 24 September. The series promises an unfiltered look at life inside one of British football’s most recognisable families, with Rooney reflecting on both his decorated career — five Premier League titles and a Champions League among 16 trophies at United — and his role as a father navigating the expectations that come with his name.