Rooney had secret Susan Boyle obsession and listened to BGT star on therapeutic massage mattress

On May 28, 2024

Wayne Rooney shocked Gary Neville after revealing his pre-match tradition at Manchester United.

Rooney, a titan among the strikers of his era, enjoyed a stellar 19-year career with over 700 club appearances. Along the way, he became the record goal-scorer for both United and England, though Harry Kane has since pinched the latter record.

The 38-year-old, who hung up his boots in 2021, recently became a regular part of Neville’s ‘Stick To Football’ team, joining the likes of Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher as a pundit. And having just been unveiled as Plymouth Argyle’s new head coach, Rooney appeared on ‘The Overlap‘, brought by Sky Bet, to talk to his former team-mate.

Neville quizzed the Red Devils legend on what he used to listen to in the dressing room before games. Rooney, rather surprisingly, admitted to taking in Susan Boyle’s hits as a calming influence before terrorising defences on the pitch.

He confessed: “I’d normally get on the massage bed, and I’d actually put Susan Boyle on Wild Horses. It just helped me settle down I think only for that little bit of time I was on the massage bed.”

Neville asked: “You always used to get a massage didn’t you?” to which Rooney responded: “Just a quick one to get my blood flowing.”

Would you listen to Susan Boyle before a football match? Let us know in the comments section.

Susan Boyle [pictured] was in her prime during Rooney's own peak at Man Utd — Susan Boyle [pictured] was in her prime during Rooney’s own peak at Man Utd
(Image: Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)

Rooney, having earned a staggering 120 international caps, hung up his boots at Derby County and dived straight into management with the Rams. His respectable tenure lasted one-and-a-half years before suffering setbacks with D.C. United and Birmingham City.

He was sacked by Birmingham in January 2024 after securing just two wins in 15 matches, despite the team being a promotion candidate when he took over. But Rooney still hasn’t given up on his managerial dream of taking charge of United one day.

Gary Neville was left bewildered on The Overlap
(Image: The Overlap/Youtube)

Rooney told Neville: “It’s a tough one because I’ve always said that I’d love to manage Everton or Manchester United. I’d probably say United that would be the pinnacle to manage Manchester United.”

“Everton would be more from an emotional standpoint, a club I support and love. But United would be the pinnacle really.”