Having Wayne Rooney as a father has its upsides, but also its downsides.
Of the Manchester United legend’s four sons, 15-year-old Kai is the best known as he’s pursuing a career in football for himself.
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Currently part of the United academy, there’s hope he could make it as a professional having plundered in 56 goals in his first season with the club.
Yet sometimes the name on the back of his shirt doesn’t help, as his mother revealed on Stick to Football.
Coleen Rooney recalled: “A few years ago, I remember my son Kai took a penalty at St George’s Park, where we were for a tournament.
“It went to penalties, Kai stepped up and just skied it. Afterwards I asked him how he could take a penalty like that, and he told me he was just fuming as the goalkeeper was saying ‘Your dad’s s***’, and he got dead angry.
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“It doesn’t happen to him very often, but it did then, and you can see in some games where they give you a little push. He’s strong-minded though and usually shrugs it off.”
That one incident aside, Kai is certainly making inroads towards the United first team, and his dad’s reputation doesn’t usually get in the way.
Discussing the talent last year, Coleen said: “We’ve never pressured them into even playing football.
“We’ve always just let them decide what they want to do. My eight-year-old was playing and doing really well but then decided he didn’t want to, and that’s OK.
“I think they sometimes get pressure off other people, you know. People approach them now and then if we’re out, they do say, ‘Are you are as good as your dad?’.
“Kai says ‘I’m a different type of player.’ You’ve got to let them know that you don’t have to follow and to be your own person.”
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Sadly for Kai, if people are going to make fun of him about his dad, now isn’t the best time.
Despite an elite career as a player that saw five Premier League wins and a Champions League crown, father Wayne hasn’t carried his talents into coaching.
Stepping off the pitch to the dugout at Derby in his first venture he received plaudits for stabilising a side in disarray after major points penalties.
Yet his following roles at DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth have all been ones to forget.
The most recent venture in Devon drew to a close after seven months when the Pilgrims cut ties on December 31 with their Championship survival hopes in tatters.
Rooney Snr left with a record of five wins and 14 defeats in 25 games with 53 goals conceded, and the expectation is his coaching career may already be at an end.
