Inside Kai Rooney’s rise to playing at Old Trafford: Why he told Wayne to stop coming to games, his ‘wide’ feet, moving to Man City – and back – learning Spanish… and a diet just like his dad!

Kai Rooney has been to Old Trafford hundreds of times over the years, either sat in the stands or running around after his dad as a tot.

There was the time a mischievous Kai gatecrashed BT Sport’s post-match coverage of a 2-1 win over Everton in 2014 to perform a handstand behind Jake Humphrey, Paul Scholes and Steve McManaman.

Or the time, two years later, when he sat between Juan Mata and Marcos Rojo in the dugout during his dad’s testimonial match.

There were laps of honour to celebrate his dad’s five Premier League titles, too.

But on Friday night, under the Old Trafford lights, it was finally Kai’s night. The Rooney shirt hanging up in the home dressing room was his. The United suit, freshly pressed, and the shoes, carefully polished, were his. The name on the official FA Youth Cup team-sheet was his.

For the very first time it was he who stepped out at the Theatre of Dreams as a United player. And it was the turn of dad Wayne and mum Coleen to play cheerleaders from the sidelines.

Through the PA system came the announcement from Alan Keegan, the voice of Old Trafford, who read out the Rooney name countless times in recent years, that the 16-year-old was coming on to replace defender Godwill Kukonki in extra time. It triggered one of the biggest cheers of the night.

The decision by Darren Fletcher, one of Wayne Rooney’s old team-mates, triggered a wave of ‘Rooney, Rooney’ chants from the 2,000-strong crowd in attendance.

The teenager, as he always does, took it all in his stride as mum and dad, sat alongside first-team interim head coach Michael Carrick, snapped a photo or two to mark the proud moment.

This was a moment to be cherished. Not just because United won, nor because it was his first competitive appearance at Old Trafford. What made this moment so special was its simplicity; proud parents watching their son live out his dream. 

Such interactions, though, have not always been possible when your father is a Premier League and England great.

‘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,’ Coleen explained during her time in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle.

‘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.’

That’s why, when the family arrived at Old Trafford last night, Wayne tried his utmost to keep a low profile. He pulled his cap low and pulled his hood up as the Mancunian rain teemed down. His cover was still rumbled by a few die-hard supporters who clamoured for selfies.

Carrick knows as good as anyone just how much the moment will have meant to the Rooney family. He has tracked Kai’s career closely over the years with his own son, Jacey, playing in the same Under 16 team.

Back in July, Carrick and Rooney flew to Northern Ireland to see Kai and Jacey competing in the Budget Energy Super Cup NI at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

‘I’m trying to make a name for myself, not try and be my dad because I’m my own person,’ Kai said back in August 2024.

‘I want to see how my career goes, obviously try to do the best I can and try to reach the biggest stages.

‘I’m just focusing on me and to try to not let any pressure get to me and just keep working on me day by day, month by month.’

One thing Wayne and Coleen have never done is to try and force any of their four sons down the path of a career in football, acutely aware of the pressures that would come with it.

So when Kai made it clear at the age of seven that he was not enjoying football at Manchester United, he was allowed to make the move across the city to play for Manchester City.

It would not be until 2020 that the youngster, who has been a brand ambassador for Puma since the age of 12, would find himself back at United. Sat at a desk in the Jimmy Murphy Centre at Carrington flanked by his parents, Kai put pen to paper on his first official contract with United.

There were also stints at Bethesda SC Washington when Wayne moved to play in the MLS and at Stockport County before going full circle back to United.

‘I’m a proud dad,’ Wayne said when his eldest son signed for United in December 2020. ‘He’s been working hard. He obviously came over to the States with us to continue with his football.

‘He went on trial with United and he’s impressed the coaches. He signed his forms yesterday so I’m delighted for him.

‘He did have other options, other clubs to go to but he decided he wants to sign for Manchester United, so it was his decision and not mine.’

Whenever the son of a former player hits the headlines the immediate cry is one of nepotism. In the case of Rooney, he is absolutely in the mix on merit having had to bide his time while peers were accelerated ahead of him.

He suffered a significant setback in his early teens when he broke both his feet and was sidelined for eight months. It was his lowest moment in football and a time when he leant on his dad for support.

Wayne has never wanted to be an interfering football dad. He passes on his knowledge and tidbits of advice – he did not become Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer by accident – but made the conscious decision years ago to let Kai find his own path through the academy system.

A byproduct of that is that Kai has developed into a conscientious young man who is well beyond his years. He is fluent in Spanish and cooking has become one of his major passions.

He is also unique in that he likes to play in boots without laces due to having wide feet for his age, a quirk of his that he has found a workaround so as not to inhibit his finishing on the pitch.

Where his dad has left an indelible mark on his burgeoning footballing career is nutrition, with Kai adopting the same routine that served his dad during his peak years at Old Trafford.

He loads up on carbohydrates two days before a game before switching to salmon and rice followed by rice pudding the night before matches, a staple of Wayne’s week as a player. It is a routine that both father and son swear by when it comes to maximising preparation.

Those in the club’s academy have noticed Kai’s impressive discipline, particularly with his diet, though he does enjoy the occasional cheat meal. The family go-to is Chinese takeaway ‘WowYauChow’ in Altrincham. Crispy chilli beef, Kai says, is a particular favourite.

Perhaps that is how the family toasted an historic night at Old Trafford that has been a long time in the making.

He has seen peers make their Under 18 debuts before him, some even stepping up to the Under 21s, while international recognition has arrived far sooner for some than it did for Rooney.

‘Be patient,’ he said in a sit-down with Lovell Soccer in 2024. ‘Different people get opportunities at different times and as long as you keep working hard your opportunity will come.

‘Don’t worry too much about other people, maybe, playing up and stuff like that. Don’t get worried about that and just be patient because if you keep working hard and keep focusing on yourself the opportunities will come. Be patient and trust the process.’

And trust the process he did as he ran out a Manchester United player at Old Trafford for the first of what everyone at the club hopes is many times more to come.

Only this time there was no impromptu handstand to cap the night off.