Man United legend reveals years of drinking until collapse:“I’d be dead without my wife Coleen”

England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed he would be dead if not for his wife, Coleen.

Wayne and Coleen have been together for almost two decades, meeting when they were teens and marrying in 2008. 

Speaking in a recent interview with his former United teammate Rio Ferdinand, Wayne opened up about his struggles with alcohol and praised his wife for sticking by his side through thick and thin.

The football legend even revealed he would use eye drops, aftershave, and chewing gum to hide his multi-day binges from his loved ones.

Speaking on Rio’s podcast, Wayne said: "I honestly believe if she weren’t there I’d be dead.

"Coleen is massive. It’s bad because we’re two kids from Croxteth, and then we grew up together, and obviously, we started dating and got married and have kids.

"But when I was 17, she could see, she knew my mind, and she knew I was a bit out there. You know, I loved my football, obsessed with football, but also I loved a night out or whatever going out.

"She’s seen it very early on, and she’s controlled that. Well, not controlled but helped me control that massively.

"And at times you’re like, ’What are you doing? Why do you keep saying don’t do this or don’t do that?’

"How she’s managed me because I needed managing. 

"[She’s] the best person, and I’ve made mistakes in the past which are well documented and whatever, but I’m a little bit different at times, and she keeps me on that path, and she’s done it for 20-odd years.

Wayne looked back on drinking until he nearly passed out during his early 20s as he opened up about the challenges he faced on and off the pitch.

He said: “I’ve had many different challenges, both on the pitch and off the pitch, and my release was alcohol.

“When I was in my early 20s, I’d spend a couple of days at home and wouldn’t move out of the house and drink almost until I passed out.

“I didn’t want to be around people because sometimes you feel embarrassed and sometimes you feel like you’ve let people down.

“Ultimately, I didn’t know how else to deal with it, so I chose alcohol to try and help me get through that.”