In a surprising turn of events, Wayne Rooney's son, Kit, has decided to hang up his football boots and instead pursue a career in darts. The young Manchester United fan has been inspired by the recent success of Luke Littler, the reigning World Darts Champion.
Kit Rooney celebrated his ninth birthday with a darts-themed party earlier this year. His interest in the sport was further piqued after meeting Luke Littler at Alexandra Palace following Littler's maiden World Championship title win.
While three of Wayne Rooney and Coleen Rooney’s four sons are avid football fans like their father, Kit has developed an affinity for darts. This shift in interest comes amidst a surge in popularity for the sport over recent years.
Wayne Rooney’s wife, Coleen Rooney, said:
“The third one has steak for breakfast, this is the darts one - he wants to become a darts player at the minute. Sometimes he'll have a fried egg with it, but mostly it's just a steak - he'll just have that.”
“Kai, he's 15, and Klay, who's going to be 12 in May, they're both at the academy at Manchester United. They've been there for quite a few years now. The youngest, he goes in at Everton. He's just turned seven, but he absolutely loves it. And the third one, he's retired. He's retired a few times.”
Rise of darting phenomenon
Luke "The Nuke" Littler burst onto the darting scene at the 2024 World Championship when he reached the final as a 16-year-old. His meteoric rise and subsequent victory have sparked renewed interest in darts among younger audiences. Following Littler’s triumphant win over Michael van Gerwen at this year's championship final, former England striker Wayne Rooney took to Instagram to congratulate him. He posted an image featuring his son Klay alongside champion Luke with caption: “What a night for the lads. Congratulations Luke. Unbelievable.”
Coleen also shared her excitement on social media after witnessing such an electrifying match: “Amazing night...kids were buzzing!! Congratulations @lukethenukelittler.” She humorously added that she was "screaming getting beer all over me."
With Kit showing keen interest towards becoming a professional darts player and his father having more time on hand after losing his job as Plymouth manager, it seems like the young Rooney might be on his way to making a name for himself in the world of darts. Only time will tell if Kit follows in Littler's footsteps and becomes a darting sensation. Regardless, his decision to pursue his passion is an inspiring reminder that sports extend beyond just football and that every game has its own charm and thrill.
