Wayne Rooney’s notorious rivalry with Liverpool extended beyond the pitch, culminating in a memorable – and slightly embarrassing – incident involving his wife, Coleen.
During his time as a player, Rooney’s Everton career never yielded a victory in the Merseyside Derby. However, he racked up significant appearances against Liverpool while playing for Manchester United, including a winning goal at Anfield in 2005. His wife’s allegiance, unsurprisingly, lay with the reigning Premier League champions.
The story unfolded when Rooney returned home after a period playing for Derby County. Coleen, in a celebratory mood following Liverpool’s Premier League title win, had hung Liverpool flags outside their old family home. “She went up and you had to actually climb out the window to get it down,” Rooney recounted on his BBC podcast, *The Wayne Rooney Show*. “I locked her out.”
Rooney admitted the entire episode was driven by his intense feelings for the rivalry. He also openly admitted his desire to challenge Liverpool’s star midfielder, Steven Gerrard. “We were good mates off the pitch and whenever I got a chance I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to absolutely smash you’,” he stated. “He did the same to me.”
The build-up to the Merseyside Derby consistently tormented Rooney. “I hated it. We didn’t win many, so when you do win them, you’ve got to make sure you enjoy it,” Rooney explained. “The build-up to the game, the whole week was horrible. Being around the training ground and, as an Evertonian, getting ready and preparing for the game and all the staff around the training ground who are Evertonians.” He described the period as “sickening,” particularly due to Liverpool’s taunts. To avoid the negative influences, Rooney implemented a strict policy of turning off all televisions in their house during the week of the derby.
He also noted the persistent attempts by Liverpool players like Jamie Carragher to wind him up. “There were a couple of times when Carragher was in your ear. Carragher liked to referee the games and the referee used to let him. He was non-stop and he had that squeaky voice screaming down your ear,” Rooney said. He added that Carragher’s tactics were often about exploiting his emotions, and he would frequently make disparaging remarks about opposing centre-backs when Everton was leading by a comfortable margin.
Despite the personal drama surrounding the matches, Rooney acknowledged the significance of the derby. “It’s a massive game, and if you win there’s no better feeling.”