Wayne Rooney makes brutal joke about his own career as he reveals real reason why he’s finally doing I’m A Celeb
Wayne Rooney has admitted one of the reasons he has signed up to this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! as he made a brutal joke about his own career.
The legendary former England and Manchester United player is following in the footsteps of wife Coleen who was the runner up on the hit ITV show in 2024.
Rooney is reportedly the biggest earner among this year's I'm A Celeb cast and is believed to be raking in £800,000 for his stint in the jungle, joining the likes of Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson and supermodel Leomie Anderson in Australia amid the return of the hit ITV series on Monday (16 November).
Ahead of the premiere, Rooney revealed why he was going into the jungle this time around, and made a quip about his own career.
Advert
READ MORE: How much every I'm A Celebrity 2026 campmate is set to be paid
The Match of the Day pundit joked he had 'time on his hands' while making the admission that he isn't 'great as a manager'. The 41-year-old started his managerial career in 2020 and has managed four different clubs; Derby County, D.C United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.
He said: "It's a show I've always wanted to do. Me and Coleen would sit there watching and we both always said: ‘If we were going to do one, it’s the show to do’.
"Coleen did it a couple of years ago and then this year it came about because of the way it fell – me not being great as a manager.
"And obviously not working full time as a player has given me time where I could do it, so I thought, why not?
“I’ve had to take time out from my pundit work and podcast to do it. So I will be straight into them when I get back. But I will miss getting the football results whilst I am away."
Coleen gave Wayne advice on surviving in the jungle
After Coleen starred in the show, coming second to winner Danny Jones, Rooney also revealed she had given him some tips about living in the wild down under.
"She has told me a bit of advice and I’ve had friends that have been in it as well," he explained. "But I suppose you have to experience it yourself, don't you?
“I think because she has done it, she knows what it is, so she knows how difficult it is as well. It will be nice for her to sit down and be invested in it.
"I'm just looking forward to experiencing it in my own way - I think that's the most important thing.
"I hope people will see me for who I am. I like to have fun and I like to think I am actually a fun guy to be around. I do like to mess around a bit and I do talk a lot.
"People will have their own opinions, but I hope they will see me as a genuine person.
"I am obviously nervous because this is new and you don’t know what to expect. But I am also very excited. I am most looking forward to meeting the other people.
"Throughout my career, I've always been in a team and I've enjoyed that environment of being around other people, talking, swapping stories and getting to know people. And if they’re up or down, it’s about helping them. I hope they will help me as well.”
Wayne reveals 'biggest fears'
Ahead of heading down under, Rooney went on to reveal his biggest fear, adding that he has failed to get into a plane three times in the past for a skydive - which is one of the key dramatic introductions to the show.
He explained: "I don’t know if I will be voted [to do trials]. Obviously, it depends on who else is in the show and if there's someone who is very annoying, but I hope I do the trials because that is a big part of the reason why you’re going in.
“Jumping out of a helicopter is a big fear. But I hope I do that, because then I will have conquered that fear.
"Snakes? I don’t like them, if I’m honest, and I think I am ok with spiders, but they are a lot bigger and scarier there. I will try everything if there is an eating trial. It’s about embracing everything."
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here season 26 debuts on Monday 16 November on ITV.
Topics: Wayne Rooney, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here News and Rumours, ITV, TV, Entertainment, Football
James Holt
