COLEEN Rooney has opened up about the challenges of keeping the romance alive in her long-distance relationship with football manager husband Wayne.
The couple, both 38 – who’ve been together for 22 years – share four sons Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six.
The couple have a long-distance relationship, with Coleen and the kids remaining in Chester[/caption]
The couple celebrating Wayne’s 38th birthday[/caption]
Wayne and Coleen with sons Kit, Klay, Kai and Cass at Wembley Stadium prior to an England friendly in 2018[/caption]
But England and Manchester United legend Wayne is currently living 250 miles away from the family’s Chester home as he manages Plymouth Argyle.
Prior to that, he had a stint in the US at Washington DC – and while having him back in the UK is a bonus for the clan, being down South means he’s not often at home.
Coleen told The Mirror: “We see him a couple of times a week, which is good…
“There’s lots of FaceTime and he always phones when we’re going out of the door in the morning. I’m like, ‘Just wait till we’re in the car. I’ve got no time.’”
The mum and entrepreneur considered a move to Devon after Wayne landed his latest role, but eventually ruled it out as the boys are all under 15.
Oldest son Kai, in particular, is starting his GCSE prep and is settled at school.
Coleen added: “Other couples and families have similar situations and have to get on with it.”
And while she cheekily refers to her husband as one of her “five boys”, she laughed off suggestions she sends care packages to him to ensure he’s eating healthily.
Whenever Wayne is back home, the pair enjoy going to a gig or having a catch up on the sofa.
In 2022, the former striker shared an Instagram snap of him and Coleen with Ed Sheeran, writing: “Ed Sheeran… class as always. Brilliant concert.”
Coleen said the key to their marriage is always trying to “make time for each other, no matter what”.
“We’ve always done that and I think that’s what has kept a good ongoing relationship.”
But she admitted, with a laugh, they are “past” making romantic gestures whenever they are reunited.
Coleen was just 16 when she was thrust into the spotlight as the childhood sweetheart of Wayne, who burst onto the football scene as a teenage wonderkid at Everton.
Caps for the Three Lions quickly followed and then a big money move to Manchester United at age 18, where he thrived under the tutelage of then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Coleen had to grow up fast, with she and Wayne going through very public trials and tribulations over the years since.
The mum-of-four even found herself in a bizarre multi-million pound court battle dubbed Wagatha Christie opposite fellow WAG Rebekah Vardy.
The case concluded in Coleen’s favour but rather than making a big deal of it, she retreated to her family, saying she’s “lucky” that she is so strong-minded when it comes to such stresses.
Wayne’s Plymouth lost away at Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion in a cagey 1-0 clash today.
But last weekend he was over the moon as they clinched their first league win against high flyers Sunderland, securing a 3-2 victory in stoppage time.
Wayne applauds Plymouth fans after his side’s defeat to West Brom on Saturday[/caption]
Coleen arrives with Wayne at Royal Courts of Justice in May 2022 amid the Wagatha Christie legal battle[/caption]
