Shelve Management Plans & Join Documentary: How Coleen Convinced Man Utd Legend Wayne to Star in ‘Unfiltered’ Rooney Show for Disney+

From Dugouts to Domestic Life — Wayne Rooney Steps Into the Spotlight for Family, Not Football

Wayne Rooney — the name conjures images of explosive volleys, lung-busting runs, and iconic goals in Manchester United red. Yet, in 2025, the Premier League legend is preparing for a new kind of stage — not the dugout or the pitch, but the front of the camera, alongside his wife Coleen and their four children. And it’s not for a quick cameo or a half-hearted reality stint. This is a full-blown, 10-part Disney+ documentary titled The Rooneys, offering an “unfiltered” look into the life of one of football’s most talked-about families.

It’s a big shift for the 39-year-old, who has spent the past few years trying to establish himself as a manager with mixed results. After stints at Derby County, D.C. United, Birmingham City, and most recently Plymouth Argyle, Rooney has put his coaching ambitions on hold. And according to those close to him, it’s all at the request — or perhaps persuasion — of his wife, Coleen.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Coleen Rooney, long known as more than just a WAG, has grown into a media figure in her own right. Following the success of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and the documentary Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, she’s building a media empire reminiscent of the Beckhams — or even the Kardashians. Her latest project? A £10 million ($14 million) fly-on-the-wall Disney+ series chronicling the Rooney family’s life behind closed doors.

At first glance, convincing a footballer as famously private (and often media-wary) as Wayne to participate sounds like a long shot. But Coleen reportedly managed it — and she didn’t just get a cameo. Wayne will be a central part of the show, offering a glimpse of life after football and the man behind the headlines.

WHY WAYNE SAID YES

Wayne Rooney Coleen David Beckham Victoria Kardashian

After a tough few years in management — particularly at Birmingham City, where he was sacked after just 15 games — Rooney’s coaching career has hit a natural pause. Sources say the stress of football management, coupled with time away from family, began to take a toll. With no financial need to take another job immediately and a lucrative punditry deal with Match of the Day reportedly on the table, the former England captain has decided to embrace something new.

“Financially, Wayne doesn’t need another manager’s job, which just brings a lot of stress and takes him away from home,” a source told Heat. “Coleen wants him to focus on their marriage and the family.”

That message seems to have landed. Rooney — who has often seemed uneasy with the spotlight, especially in non-sporting settings — has softened. “Wayne used to hate being in front of the camera,” the same source added. “But he’s more comfortable with it now and the Disney film crew have just become a part of their lives.”

The show is expected to provide a raw, honest portrait of the Rooneys’ day-to-day — parenting four boys, balancing personal ambitions, and navigating a post-football identity. It’s a fresh chapter not only for Wayne but for a couple whose every public moment has been scrutinized since their teenage years.

AN ‘UNFILTERED’ LOOK AT THE ROONEYS

Unlike many celebrity-led documentaries, The Rooneys promises minimal gloss. According to Coleen, if viewers are going to invest in the family’s story, they deserve the real thing.

“She knows they have to give viewers an unfiltered look into their world for it to be a success,” says an insider. “They’re being very open on their show… Coleen accepts that eventually Wayne may want to go back into management and that could mean more time apart, but for now she likes Wayne being at home — they’re having fun and trying new things.”

Indeed, the “unfiltered” promise is part of what makes the project so intriguing. Football fans are used to seeing the polished PR version of the Rooneys. This series, however, aims to strip all that back — to show the laughs, the tensions, the quiet moments, and the messy ones too.

BUILDING A BRAND — AND A LEGACY

For Coleen, this documentary is more than just a vanity project — it’s a statement. The Beckham family has paved the way for turning football fame into a cultural brand, with Victoria’s fashion empire and David’s endorsements and documentary setting the bar. Coleen appears to be following suit, positioning herself not just as a footballer’s wife, but as a media personality and brand-builder in her own right.

She’s taken control of her narrative — from the Wagatha Christie trial to life at home — and is now bringing her family along for the ride. In many ways, she’s showing the next generation of women in football-adjacent roles that there’s space to lead, not just support.

Wayne, for his part, seems willing to be a part of it — even if it’s outside his comfort zone. As one source put it, “He’s mainly doing this for Coleen, but he’s still excited to show people how he is as a family man.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ROONEY?

Coleen Rooney Wayne Rooney 2025

Rooney hasn’t ruled out a return to coaching, but it’s clear he’s in no rush. With an £800,000 punditry contract reportedly lined up with the BBC and regular appearances expected on Match of the Day, he’s keeping one foot in the football world — just not on the touchline.

The pause might serve him well. With time to reflect, reconnect with family, and perhaps rebrand himself through this documentary, Rooney could return to football management down the line with a clearer head and renewed energy. Or he may find that a life in media suits him just fine.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMEBACK

Wayne Rooney has made comebacks before — from red cards, bad press, form slumps, and managerial setbacks. But this one is different. It’s not about proving something on the pitch or from the bench. It’s about stepping into a new arena entirely, one shaped by love, legacy, and a bit of Hollywood magic.

The Rooneys is expected to launch on Disney+ in early 2026, and if it lives up to the hype, it could mark the beginning of a new era for one of football’s most famous families. This time, not as players or pundits — but as people.