Kai Rooney, the 16-year-old eldest son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, is forging his own path at the club's academy, having already scored for the Under-18s side. However, the family surname brings attention the teenager has had to navigate, including a ban on his father attending his grassroots matches.
Dad's match ban
As Kai began playing grassroots football, his father wanted to support him from the touchline. However, a difficult choice was made to stop the United and England icon from being present, as Coleen Rooney explained on I'm A Celebrity... in 2024.
"Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn't even watch the game," she said. "How do you say to all of these kids, 'Go away, I'm watching my son?' Adults, it's different, you could speak to them. So he (Kai) just said, 'Oh, dad there's no point you coming because you don't even watch me play anyway.' Which is sad, but it can't be helped anyway."
That ban now seems a thing of the past. Wayne has been photographed supporting Kai at matches on multiple occasions, notably during his Old Trafford debut last season.
Sibling's heartbreaking setback
While Kai has been establishing his reputation, his younger brother Cass has faced a more difficult journey. Cass had been involved with Everton's academy structure before being released following his stint with the Under-7s.
"I phoned [Wayne] and I was like, 'You're going to have to tell him,' and then I had a moment before he [Wayne] came in and he [Cass] was on his own in the house," Coleen told The Therapy Crouch podcast. "I was like, 'Cass, I've had a call and you're not going to be going into the next [year at Everton]' and he threw his head into his hands and he just burst out crying."
Wayne maintained a balanced view when discussing the setback. "You forget, they're so young," he said. "I said to him, 'I didn't join Everton's academy until I was nine, so actually you've got loads of time. Enjoy playing football and if it comes, it comes.'"
Wayne's advice for Kai
In the trailer for The Real Rooneys, Wayne emphasised that footballers continue to develop throughout their careers. "I was still learning up until the last game I ever played," he told Kai. He has been impressed with how the youngster has managed the situation thus far, but Kai has also been encouraged to prioritise his studies as he progresses through United's academy system.
"I think it's very unfair for anyone to expect him to go and do all kinds," the former England forward said. "He's just playing, he's a 15-year-old boy playing his football, enjoying it. Of course he gets different attention to a lot of his team-mates but I think he handles that really well."
Contract rule
Wayne is adamant that people should judge his son solely on his ability and accomplishments on the pitch. "Kai wants his own legacy, and I'll be there to support him," he said on The Real Rooneys. "What I don't want is him to get a scholarship or get a contract because of me."
Kai did indeed go on to secure the scholarship, as did Michael Carrick's son Jacey. Both youngsters will become eligible to sign professional contracts once they turn 17 - for Rooney's eldest son, that landmark moment is just weeks away.
