Wayne Rooney has revealed how bitter a rivalry led him to lock wife Coleen out of the house after he fell victim to a brutal prank at his family home.

Wayne Rooney on Rivalry, Pranks and Locking Coleen Out of the House

Wayne Rooney has never been one to shy away from a challenge – whether it was scoring outrageous goals for Manchester United or carrying England’s hopes on his back during major tournaments. But in a recent episode of The Wayne Rooney Show podcast, the United legend revealed that one of his most bizarre challenges came not on the pitch, but at home – and it involved his wife, Coleen, Liverpool flags, and a door lock.

This isn’t just a funny domestic anecdote; it’s a story that perfectly captures the depth of Rooney’s rivalry with Liverpool, his boyhood allegiance to Everton, and the way football banter can sometimes spill over into real life.

Wayne Rooney Reveals Bitter Rivalry with Liverpool

Rooney may have spent 13 glorious years at Manchester United, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and winning every trophy available, but his football roots are firmly blue. He grew up on Merseyside as an Everton fan, famously kissing the badge after scoring against Arsenal as a teenager. That rivalry with Liverpool was ingrained from childhood – and it never really went away.

Coleen, on the other hand, is a proud Liverpool supporter and has never hidden her affection for the Reds. According to Rooney, their different allegiances were usually a source of harmless banter, but when Liverpool finally ended their 30-year wait for a league title in 2020, things got a little more personal.

“I was managing Derby at the time, so I’d been away with the team,” Rooney recalled. “I came home and there were Liverpool flags up all over the house. It was outside the front door, on the balcony – everywhere I looked.”

The Day Coleen Covered the House in Liverpool Flags

Derby County v Cardiff City – Sky Bet Championship Rooney

Liverpool’s title win in 2020 was an emotional moment for the club’s fans, and for Coleen, it was the perfect opportunity to wind up her husband.

“She knew what she was doing,” Rooney laughed on the podcast. “She wanted to rub it in – and fair play, they deserved it that season. But I wasn’t about to sit there looking at Liverpool flags outside my own house.”

Rooney told Coleen to take them down, and when she climbed out onto the balcony to do so, he decided to get the last laugh.

“I just shut the window and locked it,” he said, still amused by the memory. “So she’s stuck outside on this little balcony trying to figure out what’s going on.”

It wasn’t a cruel prank – Rooney quickly let her back in – but it summed up the competitive edge that has always defined him. “We had a laugh about it after, but I wasn’t letting those flags stay up any longer than they had to,” he said.

Wayne Rooney Turns 40 – Coleen Plans Lavish Celebration

That sense of humour and mischief is part of what has made Wayne and Coleen one of British football’s most famous couples. And as Rooney approaches a major milestone – his 40th birthday on October 24 – Coleen is reportedly planning a celebration to match.

According to reports, the party will be an A-list affair, with invitations expected to go out to some of the biggest names in the WAG world. Victoria Beckham, Abbey Clancy, Toni Terry, and Alex Gerrard are all said to be on Coleen’s wishlist for the big night.

Rooney, who has transitioned from player to manager to pundit in recent years, will no doubt enjoy a rare chance to relax and reflect on a career that saw him win five Premier League titles, a Champions League, and become England’s record goalscorer.

Merseyside Derby Adds Extra Spice to the Story

Liverpool FC v Atletico de Madrid – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Fittingly, Rooney’s anecdote about Liverpool flags comes just as the football calendar is serving up another Merseyside derby. This Saturday, Liverpool and Everton will meet at Anfield in what promises to be a fiery clash.

Rooney knows all about the intensity of this fixture, having scored in several derbies for Everton across two spells at the club. And while he might not be directly involved anymore, you can bet he’ll be watching closely – and perhaps trading a few cheeky messages with Coleen if Everton manage to pull off a result.

The timing almost feels poetic: a man who embodied Everton’s spirit and Manchester United’s success reminiscing about a prank that still makes him laugh, right as Liverpool get ready to face their oldest rivals again.

The Playful Side of a Football Legend

For all his grit and determination on the pitch, stories like this remind fans that Wayne Rooney is, at the end of the day, a family man with a sense of humour. The idea of England’s former captain locking his wife out of the house over some football flags is both relatable and hilarious.

It’s also a reminder of how deeply football rivalries can run – they’re not just about 90 minutes on a Saturday, but about identity, pride, and sometimes even what flies outside your own home.

As Rooney turns 40, he seems more reflective, more open about the stories that shaped him, and more comfortable sharing these moments with fans. And for those who have followed his career from the streets of Croxteth to Old Trafford glory, it’s a side of Rooney that’s easy to enjoy.