Coleen saved my life, says former Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney amid his problems with constant alcoholism.
Wayne Rooney, a former striker for Manchester United and England, feels that his wife Coleen saved his life by helping him deal with his alcoholism.
The 39-year-old, who holds the record for most goals scored for United, acknowledges that he frequently drank for two days in a row during his playing career and claims he was “struggling massively” with it.
“I honestly believe if she weren’t there I’d be dead,” he told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. “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.
“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. 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.
“I just drank for two days straight. Come training and at the weekend I’d score two goals and then I’d go back and go and drink for two days straight again. She’s helped me control that massively. She’s managed me because I needed managing.”
Rooney promised his old teammate that he would use eye drops, chewing gum, and aftershave to try to hide his inebriation when he arrived for United training.