Coleen Rooney reveals her family had to flee Liverpool when husband Wayne’s move to Man United from boyhood club Everton sparked attacks on their house and cars
- Wayne Rooney decided to leave Everton for Manchester United in 2004
- His wife, Coleen, has revealed the severity of the response the family received
- Listen to It all starts! Jack Grealish shouldn’t be allowed to drift away from Man City… he will be sold this summer if things don’t change
Coleen Rooney has opened up about the backlash her family received after her husband Wayne’s transfer from Everton to Manchester United in 2004.
Growing up on Merseyside, Wayne broke into the Everton first team in 2002, announcing himself to the world with a stunning late winner against Arsenal when he was just 16 years old.
After shining on the international stage for England at Euro 2004, United came calling and Wayne opted to leave his boyhood club and join the Red Devils.
His decision to leave did not go down well with the Everton fans and Coleen, who finished second I’m a celebrity… Get me out of here! last month – has now revealed that the backlash from supporters led to her having to move the family out of Liverpool.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky betColeen said: ‘Our house was sprayed everywhere and cars had their windows smashed.
‘We literally took ourselves and moved because Sir Alex Fergusson said he wanted us out of Liverpool. But it was our families who suffered the setback and that was not fair.
Wayne Rooney decided to join Manchester United from Everton in 2004
Rooney had risen through the ranks of his boyhood club but left when he was just 18
His wife Coleen (left) has revealed the family had to leave Liverpool after backlash from fans
‘Wayne didn’t go to Liverpool for a while after that to get food or do some shopping because people just shouted things.’
Wayne would become a United legend during his 13-year stay at Old Trafford.
He won five Premier League titles and the Champions League, while also leaving as the club’s all-time top scorer after surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s previous record.
Coleen insists Wayne was always adamant he wanted to move to United to win silverware and believes it was the right decision to leave Everton despite the backlash that followed.
“I don’t think it was a problem moving to Manchester,” Coleen added.
‘For him, Everton is his club and he loved it, he still does, but Manchester United is a huge club. All he wanted was to win prizes.
‘He saw players in the past stay with their childhood club and win nothing. It was difficult for him, but he stuck to his guns and wanted to leave.
“It was tough, but it was worth it for him because he won and captured the leading goalscorer. We had fantastic times there.’
Coleen said Rooney was always adamant he wanted to play for United under Sir Alex Ferguson
Rooney won five Premier League titles during his 13-year stay at Old Trafford
Wayne returned to Everton in 2017 after falling out of favor at United under Jose Mourinho.
His second spell at Goodison Park lasted just one season before he left again to move to the US to play for DC United.
Coleen Rooney spoke on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet