Rooney confesses: "I would have died if my wife hadn't helped me fight alcoholism."

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said he "battled hard" with alcohol during his playing career. "I honestly believe that if my wife Coleen hadn't been there, I would be dead," the 39-year-old former striker said on an episode of his former teammate Rio Ferdinand's podcast. "I've made mistakes in the past. She's helped me stay on track, and has been doing so for about 20 years. I wanted to go out, have fun with my friends, and have a night out. I got to a point where I overdid it: that was a point in my life where I really struggled with alcohol. I drank for two days in a row. I'd go to training and score two goals at the weekend, then I'd go home and drink again for two days in a row." Rooney explained to his former teammate that he would arrive at United training after a drinking session and use eye drops, chewing gum and aftershave in an attempt to mask his state.