Wayne Rooney’s Son Kit Trades Football Boots for Darts: A Budding Star’s Unexpected Career Change
In a surprising turn of events, Wayne Rooney’s son, Kit Rooney, has reportedly hung up his football boots before even embarking on a professional career. The son of the Manchester United and England legend is not following in his father’s footsteps on the pitch, but instead setting his sights on the dartboard. While his brothers continue the Rooney footballing lineage, Kit is carving his own path in the world of darts, inspired by a young sensation in the sport.
Wayne and Coleen Rooney have four sons: Kai, Klay, Kit, and Cass. While football runs in the family, with three of the boys actively involved in the sport, Kit is choosing a different avenue. Eldest son Kai is currently making strides in the Manchester United academy, a breeding ground for future football stars. Klay, another Rooney son, also hones his skills within the Manchester United youth setup. Even the youngest, Cass, is showing early promise, playing for Everton, another club close to Wayne Rooney’s heart.
However, it’s Kit, the third Rooney son, who is breaking away from the expected trajectory. According to Coleen Rooney, Kit, who recently celebrated his ninth birthday with a darts-themed party, has decided to ‘retire’ from football. His passion now lies in the precision sport of darts, fueled by the incredible rise of Luke Littler. Littler, an 18-year-old darts prodigy and former teammate of Wayne Rooney in the online game Pro Clubs, has become a major inspiration for young Kit. Littler’s sensational run to become the youngest darts world champion at Alexandra Palace earlier this year has clearly captured Kit’s imagination.
Coleen Rooney, in an interview with The Sun, shared insights into Kit’s newfound passion, and even his rather unique breakfast habits: “The third one has steak for breakfast, this is the darts one, he wants to become a darts player at the minute. Sometimes he’ll have a fried egg with it, but mostly it’s just a steak – he’ll just have that.” This anecdote adds a touch of personality to Kit’s already intriguing story, showcasing his dedication, even at a young age, to his chosen pursuit.
Expanding on the footballing journeys of her other sons, Coleen added, “Kai, he’s 15, and Klay, who’s going to be 12 in May, they’re both at the academy at Manchester United, they’ve been there for quite a few years now. The youngest, he goes in at Everton, he’s just turned seven, but he absolutely loves it, and the third one, he’s retired. He’s retired a few times.” This playful remark about Kit’s ‘retirement’ highlights the lighthearted nature of a young child exploring different interests.
Wayne Rooney’s son Kit is a darts enthusiast and aims for professional play. Image: Getty
Kit’s fascination with darts is more than just a passing phase. He and his brothers even had the opportunity to meet Luke Littler at the world championships, getting his replica shirt signed – a treasured memento for the aspiring darts player. Kit is now a regular presence at the family dartboard, honing his skills and dreaming of emulating his idol, ‘The Nuke’, Luke Littler’s moniker, who is also a passionate Manchester United fan.
Rooney Steps Back: Public Attention Impacting Son Kai’s Football
Interestingly, while Wayne Rooney wholeheartedly supports all of his sons’ sporting ambitions, his presence at eldest son Kai’s football matches became problematic. The intense public attention surrounding the football icon, now 39, made it difficult for him to simply watch Kai play and enjoy the game like any other parent.
Coleen explained on “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” that the overwhelming attention led Kai to ask his father to stop attending his games: “Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots [football] tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn’t even watch the game. How do you say to all of these kids, ‘Go away, I’m watching my son?’ Adults, it’s different, you could speak to them. So he [Kai] just said, ‘Oh, Dad, there’s no point you coming because you don’t even watch me play anyway,’ which is sad but it can’t be helped.”
In summary, while the Rooney name is synonymous with footballing greatness, young Kit Rooney is bravely charting his own course in the captivating world of darts. Inspired by Luke Littler and with a steak-fueled determination, Kit’s journey from football to darts is one to watch. Will we see another Rooney achieving sporting stardom, but this time, on the oche?
What do you think of Kit Rooney’s career switch? Let us know in the comments below!