Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has credited his wife, Coleen, with helping him overcome struggles with alcohol, saying her support may have saved his life.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the 39-year-old admitted he would often drink heavily during his playing career, sometimes going on two-day binges before returning to training and still managing to perform on matchdays.

“I honestly believe, if she weren’t there, I’d be dead,” Rooney said, explaining that Coleen “helped me control that massively” when his lifestyle threatened to spiral out of control.

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Rooney, who met Coleen when they were teenagers in Liverpool and married her in 2008, said she recognised his tendencies early on and supported him throughout his career.

“She knew my mind and she knew I was a bit out there. She’s helped me massively,” he said.

The former Manchester United captain also revealed he tried to conceal his drinking from then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson by chewing gum and using eye drops before training sessions.

Rooney, United’s all-time record goalscorer, has had well-documented issues with alcohol, including a 2017 drink-driving conviction in Cheshire and a separate arrest for public intoxication in the United States the following year.

Now retired from management after leaving Plymouth Argyle, Rooney co-hosts a BBC podcast and works as a football pundit.