Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 21:47 / Updated on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 21:51
Wayne Rooney (40) was in attendance for his son Kai (16) in Manchester United U18's emphatic 6-1 win over Derby County U18 in the Under-18 Premier League.
Kai Rooney started the game on the bench and was brought on in the second half. The young forward contributed to the team's success, providing a decisive assist on the last goal and getting involved in the offensive phases at the end of the game.
Wayne Rooney, in the stands to watch his son
In the stands were also the coach of the first team, Michael Carrick, but also the former defender of the “devils”, John O'Shea, notes The Mirror.
Although Kai had a good end to the match, the spotlight was on another youngster from United's academy: JJ Gabriel, only 15 years old.
Gabriel scored twice. The first goal came from the penalty, but the second was the success of the day: an individual action at speed, finished with a strong shot, unstoppable for the opposing goalkeeper.
For Wayne Rooney, it was another appearance in the stands to support his son, having also witnessed his Old Trafford debut at youth level earlier in the year.
Kai, son of Wayne Rooney // PHOTO: Imago Images
What Wayne Rooney's wife said: “She told him not to come to football matches anymore”
Coleen Rooney, Wayne's wife, said in 2024 about their son: “That's the thing with kids, I think, it's hard to go to outings or events. Kai told Wayne to stop coming to soccer games when he was playing in junior tournaments and stuff like thatbecause he was always surrounded by people and couldn't even watch the match.
How do you say to all these children: “Go away, I'm following my son”? It's different with adults, you can talk to them. So he simply said: “Dad, there's no point in coming, you're not watching me play anyway,” said Wayne Rooney's wife, according to the quoted source.
