Wayne Rooney shares heartbreak after son is released by Everton
Wayne RooneyWayne Rooney and his wife Coleen have opened up about the emotional moment their youngest son, Cass, was released from the Everton academy.
The eight-year-old was devastated by the news, which highlights the brutal nature of youth football even for the children of modern legends.
A difficult conversation at home
Speaking on the Therapy Crouch podcast to former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and his wife Abbey Clancy, Coleen detailed how she had to break the news to the youngster.
She explained that they knew the decision was coming because of the size of the squad and the step up to the under-9s age group.
Coleen admitted she initially wanted her husband to deliver the bad news, but she ended up speaking to Cass when they were alone in the house.
Speaking to the Therapy Crouch podcast, Coleen said:
“I was like, ‘Cass, I’ve had a call and you’re not going to be going into the next [year at Everton]’ and he threw his head into his hands and he just burst out crying.”
Fortunately, the young Everton season ticket holder quickly bounced back from the initial disappointment and was soon back playing grassroots football.
He was even on the phone to his grandparents shortly after to let them know about the decision.
Dealing with the realities of academy football
The Rooney family are well acquainted with the Manchester United and Everton academy setups, with their older children progressing well.
Their eldest son, 16-year-old Kai, is currently thriving with the Manchester United under-18s after securing a scholarship earlier this summer.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Klay is also part of the youth development system at Old Trafford.
Because the older siblings had managed to stay within the academy system, the rejection of their youngest son was particularly difficult for the family to navigate.
Coleen explained that Cass is a massive Everton supporter, making the departure from his beloved club even harder to take.
Wayne offers a reassuring perspective
Wayne Rooney, who rose through the ranks at Goodison Park before becoming a superstar, offered a philosophical view on the setback.
He compared the selection process in youth football to the academic streaming systems used in normal schools.
Speaking to the Therapy Crouch podcast, Wayne said:
“In football, the amount of players we’ve played with… who maybe don’t make it at Man United, Everton or Liverpool, but then they go and play [elsewhere], so there’s opportunity to have a career.”
The former England captain pointed out that his own path to professional football did not start quite as early as his son’s did.
He reassured the youngster by reminding him that there is still plenty of time to develop his skills away from the academy system.
Speaking to the Therapy Crouch podcast, Wayne said:
“I said to him, ‘I didn’t join Everton’s academy until I was nine, so actually you’ve got loads of time. Enjoy playing football and if it comes, it comes’.”
For now, Cass is continuing his football journey with his local grassroots team, free from the immediate pressures of elite academy expectations.
