Wayne and Coleen Rooney were accompanied by Manchester United manager Michael Carrick in the Old Trafford directors’ box as their son Kai, aged 16, debuted at the Theatre of Dreams. Kai played for the Red Devils’ Under-18 team in a match against Derby in the FA Youth Cup, coming on as a substitute during extra time and showing promise despite being two years younger than his opponents. Manchester United emerged victorious with a 2-1 win after extra time, securing their spot in the fifth round.
Carrick has been actively involved at all levels of the club since taking over as United’s manager until the end of the season after Ruben Amorim’s departure. He was present at Leigh Sports Village to witness United’s U21 team defeat Sporting Lisbon, a commitment that his predecessor failed to uphold during his 14-month tenure. Carrick was joined by his assistants Steve Holland, Jonny Evans, and Jonathan Woodgate at Old Trafford on Friday.
United’s recent successes include victories for the first team, U21s, and U18s, with the latter achieving a win through an own goal by Luca Crolla and a well-executed finish by Chido Obi. Carrick expressed his support for the young players participating in the FA Youth Cup, emphasizing the significance of the competition for the club and the invaluable experience it provides.
Kai’s debut at Old Trafford comes five years after signing his initial contract with the club where his father, Wayne Rooney, made a lasting impact as the all-time leading goal scorer for Manchester United. The crowd of over 2,000 fans cheered on Kai, echoing the familiar chants of ‘Rooney, Rooney’ that once resonated through the Stretford End for his father.
Wayne Rooney rose to prominence at just 16 years old when he scored a memorable goal for Everton against Arsenal before transferring to Manchester United at 18. He went on to make 559 appearances for the club, scoring 253 goals and winning numerous titles, including five Premier League championships, one FA Cup, three League Cups, the Europa League, and the Champions League during his tenure at Old Trafford.