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
Coleen Rooney has opened up on the backlash her family received following her husband Wayne’s transfer from Everton to Manchester United in 2004. Having grown up on Merseyside, Wayne broke into the Everton first team in 2002 and announced himself to the world with a stunning late winner against Arsenal when he was still just […]
Coleen Rooney has opened up on the backlash her family received following her husband Wayne’s transfer from Everton to Manchester United in 2004.
Having grown up on Merseyside, Wayne broke into the Everton first team in 2002 and announced himself to the world with a stunning late winner against Arsenal when he was still just 16 years of age.
After shining on the international stage for England at Euro 2004, United came calling and Wayne opted to leave his boyhood club to join the Red Devils.
His decision to leave did not go down well with Everton fans, and Coleen – who finished runner-up on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last month – has now revealed the reaction of supporters led to her having to move the family out of Liverpool.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Coleen said: ‘Our house got spray painted everywhere and there was smashed windows in cars.
‘We literally took ourselves and moved because Sir Alex Fergusson said that he wanted us out of Liverpool. But it was our families that got the backlash then and that wasn’t fair.
Wayne Rooney decided to join Manchester United from Everton in 2004
Rooney had gone through the ranks at his boyhood club but left when he was only 18
His wife, Coleen (left), has revealed the family had to leave Liverpool after backlash from fans
‘Wayne never went into Liverpool for a while after that, to get food or go shopping because people would just shout stuff.’
Wayne would go on to 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 leading goalscorer after going past Sir Bobby Charlton’s previous record.
Coleen insists Wayne was always adamant that 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 an issue moving to Manchester,’ Coleen added.
‘For him, Everton is his club, and he loved it, still does, but Manchester United is a massive club. All he wanted to do was win trophies.
‘He saw players in the past stay with their childhood clubs and not go on to win anything. For him, it was hard, but he stood his ground and wanted to leave.
‘It was tough, but it was worth it for him because he went on to win and seize the lead goalscorer. We had some fantastic times there.’
Coleen said that Rooney was always adamant he wanted to play for United under Sir Alex Ferguson
Rooney went on to win five Premier League titles during his 13-year stay at Old Trafford
Wayne returned to Everton in 2017 after falling out of favour at United under Jose Mourinho.
His second spell at Goodison Park lasted just one season before he left once again to move to the US to play for DC United.
Coleen Rooney was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet
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