Kai Rooney follows his father’s footsteps at Old Trafford in the Theatre of Dreams
24 January 2026
Kai Rooney's Old Trafford Debut for Manchester United U18s
Kai Rooney, Wayne Rooney's son, followed in his father's footsteps by making his competitive bow for Manchester United's Under-18s at Old Trafford during the FA Youth Cup.
According to ESPN, the 16-year-old came on as a substitute in the 99th minute as United's youth team beat Derby County 2-1 after extra time, earning a place in the quarterfinals with his father watching from the directors' box.
The winger entered the field in the 99th minute when the game was still goalless, before Luka Korola and Chido Obi sealed the win for the side led by Darren Fletcher, a former teammate of Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney watched Kai's first steps on Old Trafford from the directors' box, alongside his wife Coleen, with Michael Carrick and other first-team staff in attendance.
Kai had previously scored for United's Under-18s in a League Cup match at the club's training ground in Carrington, though that encounter took place on the club's usual U18 venue at Carrington.
Notably, Kai joined Man United's academy in 2020 at age 11 after Wayne's departure from Old Trafford, concluding a 13-year family association with the club, during which Wayne became the club's all-time top scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances.
Punchline 1: If Kai keeps this up, the club will start charging admission for the Rooney family photo album at the turnstiles. Punchline 2: Old Trafford just got another chapter in the family saga—call it “ROI: Rooney Of Inheritance.”
