Kai Rooney is following his father's path and knocking on the door of men's football but Wayne has some clear advice for the youngster
Wayne Rooney on The Real Rooneys
Wayne Rooney has already offered advice to his son Kai
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Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has reminded son Kai that, as a footballer, you never stop learning new things. Rooney scored more than 250 goals in 13 years at the club and Kai is now closing in on a first taste of senior football.
The England international's 16-year-old son has come through United's academy and scored twice for the Under-18s last season. He also made his FA Youth Cup debut during an injury-hit season, with a win over Derby County's academy side representing an Old Trafford bow for the teenager.
Both Wayne and Kai appear in the new Disney Plus documentary 'The Real Rooneys'. In the trailer, Wayne can be seen telling his son: "I was still learning up until the last game I ever played"
The learning process has continued for the 40-year-old since his retirement as he has taken steps into management and punditry. "I'm doing my job, I'm entertaining the country," he says later in the trailer. Rooney has seen his role on Match of the Day grow and will now also head up new quiz show 'Can You Beat Wayne Rooney?'.
Kai Rooney scored goals for fun while starting as a striker for United's academy sides but has now shifted towards wide role. Earlier this month, he spoke about modelling his game on Al Hilal's former Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli.
"If I'm playing right wing Martinelli but more like him as a striker," the teenager told TikToker Gabrielvpool. "I'm not like a hold up striker, I'm more running behind."
Kai Rooney with fans at the FA Youth Cup in January 2026
Kai made his Old Trafford debut in January(Image: Getty Images)
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He is now back from injury and ready to contribute more for the Under-18s this season. However, unlike fellow academy star JJ Gabriel, he has not yet been fast-tracked to train with the senior side.
Despite watching his son impress at academy level, Wayne has been reluctant to put too much pressure on Kai to light up the footballing world. Instead, he's keen for his son to develop at his own pace.
"I think it's very unfair for anyone to expect him to go and do all kinds," the former Plymouth and Birmingham manager said. "He's just playing, he's a 15-year-old boy playing his football, enjoying it. Of course he gets different attention to a lot of his team-mates but I think he handles that really well."
Kai has signed a scholarship contract with United, as has Michael Carrick's son Jacey, while he will be eligible to sign professional terms after his 17th birthday in October. In the meantime, though, he has also been continuing his studies off the pitch.
He passed all of his GCSEs this summer, with mother Coleen referencing the fact that he has now earned a place in sixth form. The results demonstrate a willingness to learn off the pitch and, as Wayne has already indicated, the learning process on the field never stops.
Stream The Real Rooneys on Disney+ from 24th September