Wayne Rooney, a name that has become synonymous with English football, recently shared an intriguing story from his early days at Everton. In 2002, a 17-year-old Rooney was making waves in the football world. With his exceptional talent and youthful exuberance, he quickly became a sensation at Goodison Park.
Rooney's performances for Everton were nothing short of extraordinary. His thunderous winner against Arsenal not only etched his name into English football folklore but also earned him the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year award.
On the night of the awards ceremony, Rooney found himself sharing the stage with some of football's greatest figures. Manchester United legend George Best was honoured with a lifetime achievement award while former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger bagged coach of the year for guiding Gunners to a double victory. However, amidst all this celebration and recognition, controversy quietly brewed behind closed doors involving then-manager David Moyes and Rooney’s teenage sweetheart Coleen.
Ban that stirred controversy
David Moyes had been instrumental in shaping young Wayne's career during their time together at Everton. However, on this particular occasion when Rooney was set to receive one of his first major accolades as an emerging star in English football - Moyes made an unexpected decision that would later stir controversy.
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United legend, said:
"That night was when I won the Young Sports Personality of the Year medal and I had a chewing gum like this. I was chewing like that and I had a tie, but I didn't tie it all the way up. And I hated wearing suits, so I got hammered for it in the press. But Coleen was meant to come. She borrowed money off her mum to buy a dress Moyes wouldn't let her come because we were under 18. So it was in London, the award, so yeah, I got a bit of a stiff because I didn't know the etiquette of going to the Sports Personality Awards. I would have gone in a tracksuit if I could."
Moyes decided to ban Coleen from attending the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards ceremony where her boyfriend was being honoured. This surprising move by Moyes sparked quite a stir within sports circles and beyond.
This incident serves as an intriguing chapter in Wayne Rooney's illustrious career journey - highlighting not just his meteoric rise to stardom but also shedding light on some lesser-known off-field incidents that shaped him as a player. As Rooney continues to share his experiences and insights from his footballing journey, fans eagerly await more such fascinating stories that offer a deeper look into the life and times of this English football legend.
