Wayne Rooney has lost three stone after giving up alcohol, saying the decision has left him in better health and has helped put his 18-year marriage to Coleen in a happier place.
The former England captain, 41, said he had stopped drinking six months ago after recognising that his alcohol use had gone too far. He said Coleen had helped him through a period in which he was “struggling massively”.
“I have stopped drinking for six months and Coleen is happy because from a point of view of our marriage we are in a much better place and a much happier place, so that obviously makes a difference,” he said.
He added: “She has said I look better, but from a mental point of view I am in a much better place as well. I think I am in a really good place, a really happy place.”
Wayne Rooney’s transformation ahead of the jungle
Rooney’s lifestyle change comes as he prepares to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, following Coleen’s appearance on the ITV programme in 2024, when she finished as runner-up.
The couple’s relationship has faced significant strain over the years, including Rooney’s infidelity in 2010. More recently, their documentary, The Real Rooneys, showed arguments over his nights out and the impact of drinking on their family life.
At one point, Coleen considered separating from him. She was also shown angry after Rooney left her to care for their four sons while he recovered from a hangover during a family holiday in Portugal.
Rooney said his weight loss had come from changing his diet, returning to a training routine and removing alcohol rather than from weight-loss injections, amid speculation about his transformation.
“I am probably eating the healthiest I have ever eaten and getting back into a routine of training, so it all ties in,” he said. “Just losing weight helps with your skin and not drinking helps from a health point of view as well.”
He has also undergone a nose operation and started using Invisalign clear aligners ahead of his appearance in the Australian jungle.
Rooney said Coleen had advised him to remain himself during the programme. She is preparing to travel to Australia with their two youngest sons, while their older children are staying at home because they are “embarrassed” by his participation.
The couple have four sons: Kai, 17, Klay, 13, Kit, ten, and eight-year-old Cass.
Rooney admitted he was hoping to go further in the competition than Coleen, although he insisted there was no rivalry between them.
“I was really proud of Coleen and her time in the jungle,” he said. “There’s no competition between us, but I would like to do a little bit better than her. So let’s see!”
He has already completed a skydive as part of his first challenge, despite previously cancelling plans to jump from a helicopter on three occasions because of his fear of heights.
Rooney said he was anxious about being separated from his family and having no contact with them, but remained determined to take part in the experience. He is also hoping to win the programme after becoming the early favourite, saying it would show that viewers had found him relatable.
Among his fellow contestants will be Ade Adepitan, Joanna Page, Ricky Wilson, Chloe Burrows, AJ Odudu, Mariella Frostrup, Leomie Anderson, Claire Sweeney, Leigh Francis and Jack Skipper.
