Wayne Rooney takes wife Coleen and children on Barbados New Year’s holiday with three ex-Man Utd team-mates

Wayne Rooney, Coleen and the Rooney family swap Manchester grey for Barbados sunshine alongside former Manchester United stars

Wayne Rooney has never been one to do things quietly, but this time the former Manchester United and England captain has chosen calm over chaos. As the New Year approached, Rooney, his wife Coleen and their children packed their bags, left behind the cold and rain of the British winter, and headed for the warmth of Barbados. It was a familiar escape for football royalty — sun, sand, family, and just enough football talk to keep things interesting.

The Caribbean getaway wasn’t just a Rooney family affair either. Joining them on the island were three familiar faces from Old Trafford’s past: Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson. Once teammates in Manchester United’s dressing room, the quartet reunited thousands of miles away from the pressures of the Premier League, swapping training pitches for beaches and tactics boards for sunglasses.

For Rooney, now 40 and enjoying a season as a television pundit after stepping away from management, the trip felt like a rare pause — a moment to recharge, reconnect, and watch the next generation begin to dream.

Barbados sunshine replaces British winter for the Rooney family

With average temperatures hovering around 29°C, Barbados offered the perfect antidote to a bleak UK December. The Rooneys were spotted enjoying beach days, relaxed walks along the shoreline and plenty of family time as they prepared to welcome the New Year in style.

Wayne, who spent the last two decades under relentless scrutiny as a player and later as a manager, looked noticeably at ease. There were no touchlines to patrol, no post-match interviews to navigate — just the sound of the sea and the laughter of his children.

Coleen Rooney, long used to life in the public eye herself, shared moments from the holiday that showed a family enjoying normality, despite the famous surname. It was a reminder that behind the medals, goals and headlines, Rooney remains a devoted husband and father first.

Kai Rooney steals the spotlight during the Barbados getaway

Kai Rooney Man Utd

While Wayne Rooney is the global icon, it was his eldest son Kai who unexpectedly became the star of the trip. According to reports, the 16-year-old caught plenty of attention on the beach — not least when he challenged former United defender Jonny Evans to a sprint across the sand.

For those who know football families, the scene felt symbolic. A former Premier League defender racing against the son of one of England’s greatest strikers, barefoot on a Caribbean beach. Football never really switches off.

Kai, currently part of Manchester United’s Under-18 setup, is already carving out his own path. Tall, powerful and ambitious, the young forward has spoken openly about his dreams. When asked on Instagram by The Talent Hunter where he hopes to be in five years, his answer was direct and confident.

“Playing on the biggest stage amongst the best players, winning trophies.”

It was a response that carried echoes of his father’s mindset — focused, driven, and unapologetically ambitious.

Kai Rooney’s Manchester United journey gathers momentum

Kai Rooney made his debut for United’s U18s in August against Everton, a moment that naturally drew attention given his surname. He followed that appearance with a goal off the bench in a convincing 5-0 win over Middlesbrough at Carrington, offering an early glimpse of his potential.

Injuries slowed his progress for several months, an early lesson in the realities of elite football. But recently, he has returned to action under Darren Fletcher’s guidance, working his way back into rhythm and confidence.

For Wayne Rooney, watching his son navigate academy football brings mixed emotions. Pride, of course, but also a strong desire to protect Kai from unnecessary pressure. Speaking previously to the BBC while watching Kai at the SuperCupNI tournament in Northern Ireland, Rooney explained his approach.

“He has great coaches at Manchester United, so I take a stand-off approach,” Rooney said. “I speak to him, but for me it’s all about his mentality and mindset, making sure he keeps enjoying it — that’s the main thing.”

It’s advice shaped by experience. Few understand the weight of expectation better than Wayne Rooney.

Ex-Man Utd team-mates reunite far from Old Trafford

The presence of Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson added another layer of nostalgia to the Barbados trip. Together with Rooney, they represent a generation shaped by Sir Alex Ferguson — players who experienced the highest standards, intense competition and relentless pressure.

Carrick, now an established coach after spells in management, remains one of Rooney’s closest football confidants. Evans, still playing at the top level, continues to defy time with his consistency and professionalism. Gibson, once tipped for big things at United, has since stepped away from the elite spotlight.

Seeing them together again, this time with families in tow, offered a reminder of football’s unique bonds. Careers may diverge, but shared memories remain.

Ruben Amorim and belief in academy pathways

Back in Manchester, the club Kai Rooney hopes to represent continues to lean into its academy identity. Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim recently spoke at length about the importance of giving young players opportunities, particularly after injuries forced his hand.

Following United’s Boxing Day win over Newcastle, Amorim was clear in his message.

“We have a squad and I try to choose the best players to play. I understand the history of the club. I want to be part of that,” he said. “Today was the opposite of many games; we put academy players in because we had to do it, and they deserved it.”

Amorim also praised Jack Fletcher, son of Darren Fletcher, underlining the humility and work ethic required to survive at the highest level.

“It’s very important for any kid,” Amorim said. “He works really hard and deserves this.”

For academy players like Kai Rooney, these words matter. Opportunity, at Manchester United, is never guaranteed — but it remains possible.

Wayne Rooney’s future: punditry now, management later?

Liverpool FC v Real Madrid C.F. – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4

While Kai’s future is just beginning, Wayne Rooney remains at a crossroads of his own. Since leaving Plymouth Argyle last year, the former striker has stepped away from management and into punditry, becoming a regular voice on Match of the Day.

He speaks with clarity, honesty and insight — qualities that have impressed viewers. Yet questions remain about whether Rooney will return to the dugout.

Former teammate Louis Saha has suggested the transition back to coaching may not be straightforward.

“It won’t be easy,” Saha said earlier this year. “We saw that with Roy Keane and Gary Neville. They wanted to be managers but realised it’s not that easy.”

Saha added that Rooney’s strengths may now lie elsewhere.

“Gary Neville found out he was better as a pundit than a coach. So we will see.”

For now, Rooney appears content. Barbados, family time, and distance from the weekly grind of management may be exactly what he needs to decide his next move.

A New Year framed by family, football and perspective

As fireworks prepared to light up the Caribbean sky, Wayne Rooney welcomed the New Year far from Old Trafford, but never truly far from football. Watching his son chase dreams, laughing with old teammates, and enjoying moments away from pressure, the trip felt significant.

It was not about headlines or comebacks. It was about balance.

For a man who has lived life at full speed since his teenage years, Barbados offered something rare: perspective. And as 2026 begins, both Wayne and Kai Rooney step into the future — one reflecting on what has been, the other chasing what might be.