Rooney 'spiked me with viagra' before training claims former England team-mate

14 January 2024 , 01:22

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Wayne Rooney once tricked a former England teammate into taking viagra (Image: STUART ROBINSON)

Carlton Cole has claimed Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Shaun Wright-Phillips once pranked him into taking viagra while they were all away on England duty.

Cole earned seven caps for England between 2009 and 2011 and revealed on an episode of the Footballer's Guide to Football podcast where Defoe was also a guest how he had been tricked into taking the pill by his teammates.

"The stonker was there," Cole said. "I wasn't sexually aroused but it was just there. I was the quickest person around that pitch - I had three legs. I had erased that from my memory – you're bringing back bad memories."

Defoe then explained: "Carlton was always smiley, happy and that, so we just thought, if you are going to get anyone, who would take it? He just took it because he was thinking, 'Oh yeah, vitamins, good for my body'.

"I was in stitches. It was the funniest thing. When we told him after... his face! And there's nothing he could do. I thought, 'You're going to have to deal with this for a few hours, my friend'. Oh my God."

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Cole retired from football in 2018, having played for the likes of Chelsea, West Ham and Celtic during his career. Following his retirement, the 40-year-old has worked as a pundit and also a coach with West Ham's under-16s.

"When I started I didn't realise I would get this embedded," he told the Independent last year. "I was doing my badges but suddenly you're a mentor to these kids, not just making them better footballers but better people too.

Carlton Cole made seven appearances for England between 2009 and 2011 (Getty Images)

"I'm really happy West Ham have trusted me with these boys and it's come to a point where I understand how far I can go. Transitioning from being a player was hard to begin with but I think I've adapted now.

"I'm not sure whether long-term it'll be coaching I stay in but it's good to know I can do this. I didn't go fast track, I did it step by step with the FA. I know my philosophy, I know the style I want to play, but I can use that in other areas.

"I might want to be a director of football and coaching is just a part of the journey which might lead to bigger things. You have to find your identity within the game."

Matthew Cooper