While they’ve built themselves up as a showbiz power couple, Coleen and Wayne Rooney have seen their marriage plagued by its fair share of drama over the years. And last week saw yet another scandal unfold.
While Coleen’s already in the spotlight with details surrounding theWagatha Christie scandal – where she accused fellow WAG Rebekah Vardy’s Instagram account of leaking stories on her to the press, which Rebekah has denied – footballer Wayne hit the headlines after he was reportedly heard making crass comments about the couple’s bedroom antics at a Soccer Aid event earlier this month.
Wayne, 34, reportedly “joked” with fellow partygoers about his recent “lack of sex life” with wife Coleen, with his comments becoming the “talk of the event.”
It’s not the first time the couple’s relationship has been thrown into the spotlight – in 2004, it emerged that Wayne had cheated on his childhood sweetheart with a number of prostitutes at a brothel in Liverpool, including a grandmother.
Then, after two years of marriage and while Coleen was pregnant, former escort Helen Wood claimed Wayne had paid for a threesome with her and friend Jenny Thompson at a Manchester hotel.
Wayne – who shares sons Kai, ten, Klay, seven, Kit, four, and Cass, two, with Coleen – was headline news again in 2017 when he was caught drink-driving in a car with party girl Laura Simpson after a night out. And in August last year, Wayne reportedly went on a bender with his D.C. United teammates in Florida, which culminated with them getting into a jacuzzi with three women at a friend’s flat.
As Closer previously reported, Wayne’s decision to cut short his contract with DC United was centered on Coleen and the boys – and the couple were hoping for a fresh start when they returned to the UK.
Last year, sources revealed Wayne had made a marriage vow to Coleen to quit booze and help more with day-to-day family life. And despite the latest drama, the couple put on a united front at Coleen’s parents’ 40th wedding anniversary last week, with the mum-of-four sharing a picture of the couple smiling together.
Now her pal and former WAG Lizzie Cundy tells Closer that she knows all too well what it feels like to have the ups and downs of marriage played out in the limelight – after discovering in 2010 that her then-husband Jason had been cheating on her with an opera singer.
Check out: Wayne and Coleen Rooney's relationship timeline - from childhood sweethearts to devoted parents
Wayne and Coleen Rooney's relationship timeline - slider
1 of 23Wayne Rooney Coleen Rooney
Even though they first met at school when they were 12, Wayne and Coleen first started dating after they finished school at the age of 16.
2 of 232002
At just 17 Wayne joined Everton football club and even though they'd only been dating a year Coleen admitted that they had already discussed getting married.At the time she admitted: "We want to spend the rest of our lives together and there's no stronger commitment than getting married."
3 of 232003
The happy couple got engaged in 2003 at a petrol station after Wayne got down on one knee. He asked his childhood sweetheart to spend the rest of their lives together with a £46,500 engagement ring.
4 of 232004
Coleen discovered that Wayne slept with a 48-year-old nan in a brothel back in 2002
5 of 232005
The WAG then defended her fiancé and admitted when he cheated they hadn't slept together yet. She added, "we weren't having that kind of relationship at that stage."
6 of 232007
Wayne and Coleen looked totally loved up at a public event a year before they got married
7 of 232008
At the age of 22, Wayne and Coleen tied the knot in a church in Italy!
8 of 232008
9 of 232009
2009 – A year after their wedding, the happy couple welcomed their first child Kai into the world
10 of 232010
Just a year after they had their first child it was alleged that while Coleen was pregnant, Wayne cheated with prostitutes Jennifer Thompson and Helen Wood.
11 of 232010
Even though Coleen and Kai moved out of their family home following the allegations, the married couple put their troubles aside and reunited.
12 of 232013
The happy couple look so adorable with their son Kai while they await the arrival of their second child
13 of 232013
The Rooney's welcomed their second baby into the world – Klay
14 of 232016
In 2016, the Rooney family welcome baby Kit into the world
15 of 232017
During the summer holidays Coleen denied being pregnant after this photo emerged (even though she was)
16 of 232017
After denying her pregnancy for weeks the happy couple soon confirmed the exciting news - that they're having their fourth child!
17 of 232017
It was shortly after the Rooney's announced they're having their fourth child that Wayne was pictured and arrested for drunk driving.
18 of 232017
Things went from bad to worst after it came to light that Wayne was driving Laura Simpson's car. She then spoke out and claimed that they "had a kiss, a hug, some banter, harmless fun".
19 of 232017
It was then reported that Coleen along with her sons had fled from the family home after revealing her marriage was over.
20 of 232017
Following the scandal, Wayne received a driving ban for two years following his arrest and Laura appeared on This Morning to deny ever cheating with the footballer.
21 of 232017
After weeks of speculation around the couples marriage, it appeared that all was forgiven and forgotten as it was reported that the pair were planning on renewing their wedding vows.
22 of 232017
Coleen then surprised everyone by being totally honest in a Facebook post and admitted that although she's been through a "shit time" she decided to forgive her husband because she wants to "try and continue our marriage and live as a family".
23 of 232018
In February 2018 the Rooney family got even bigger as the happy couple welcomed their fourth child into the world - baby Cass!Yup. They broke their tradition with names beginning with 'K' but the little is adorable so who cares, ey?
Lizzie, 52, says, “Coleen has worked hard over the years to bounce back from their marriage dramas in the past, and this will be fresh humiliation for her. I imagine she’ll just have her head in her hands, especially as their marriage had been so drama-free more recently.
“When claims about your marriage come out like this, it hurts no matter what level it is. It was awful when news broke about my husband’s cheating ten years ago – it’s so painful having details about your private life out there for everyone to know.
“Coleen has chosen to stand by Wayne over the years – which is so admirable – but it makes things like this, and the inevitable reminders of the past, even more hurtful. But I have no doubt that what Wayne said was a silly, throwaway comment. Coleen will know that and she’ll stand by him. She’s so strong and fiercely protective of her boys and family – that’s why she’s been able to make their marriage work.”
And as news broke last week that a date had been set for Coleen and Rebekah’s preliminary court hearing, Lizzie says that this latest furore around her marriage will have hit Coleen harder.
She adds, “It’s terrible timing – it’s just another bit of drama to add to her life right now. She’s got so much going on with the court case and she just didn’t need it. The reason the ordeal with Rebekah began was because Coleen is so guarded about her private life – so this latest gossip around Wayne’s reported behaviour will just be added stress all over again. But she’ll just be focusing on her boys and moving forward.”
Meanwhile, relationship expert Jo Barnett believes the real reason Coleen has appeared to brush off his latest embarrassing gaff and is putting on a united front again is to prove to Rebekah that she is happy, calm and confident as she tries to retain the upper hand in their ongoing conflict.
Jo says, “She has the court drama with Rebekah looming in the very near future, so I would think she wouldn’t want anything to rock the boat or create any more drama. So, despite Wayne’s silly comment, I imagine she’ll be hoping to move past this and, most importantly, keep up her image of a strong and confident person on social media.
“She’ll forgive Wayne for his latest betrayal because she wants to keep it together in public. She has always tried to present a ‘happy family’ image through all the dramas over the years, and I think now – with everything going on with the court case – is no exception.”
WATCH: Love Island's Molly Smith thought Callum Jones was arrogant 😮| My First Times
READ MORE
Coleen’s legal battle with Rebekah – wife of England footballer Jamie Vardy – is still going ahead, with a preliminary trial date set for 15 November.
Rebekah is suing Coleen for libel and damage to her reputation after being accused of selling stories last October – and the upcoming preliminary hearing will see lawyers needing to establish the “natural and ordinary meaning” of Coleen’s accusatory social-media post.
A legal expert tells Closer that this date will kickstart the upcoming court proceedings and that, when the trial officially begins in 2021, the two women will have to come face-to-face at last, adding, “Make no mistake, it will be a stressful, unpleasant experience for both of them.”
Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.