Wayne Rooney 'in talks to make boxing debut' in shock move away from football for Man Utd and England legend

Wayne Rooney 'in talks to make boxing debut' in shock move away from football for Man Utd and England legend

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Wayne Rooney in talks for boxing debut

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 14/02/2024

- 19:23

Updated: 14/02/2024

- 19:24

The 38-year-old could make a surprise appearance in a boxing ring

Manchester United's all-time record goalscorer Wayne Rooney is reportedly in talks with Misfits regarding a potential boxing fight.

It is claimed the former England striker is considering entering the ring for a one-off bout for the company which has boasted stars such as KSI and Logan Paul.


Rooney is currently out of work after being sacked as the manager of Championship side Birmingham City in January.

He lasted just 15 games at St Andrew's, winning two matches and seeing the team drop to 20th in the second tier of English football.

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is considering a move into boxing with Misfits

Getty

Where he goes next in his management career remains to be seen but it appears he could instead try his hand at a new sport.

The Daily Mirror says the 38-year-old has held discussions with Misfits about a potential fight.

The series is promoted by Kalle Sauerland and it is claimed Rooney may appear at one of their upcoming fights.

YouTube stars KSI and Paul are among those to have competed for big money for Misfits.

Rooney is weighing up his options when it comes to his next steps in football.

He resigned as DC United head coach last October and was almost immediately installed as the new Birmingham boss.

But his failure in the Midlands has left his coaching career at a crossroads.

Rooney has always been a boxing fan and once walked out with Ricky Hatton during the Hitman's fight against Jose Luis Castillo in 2007.

He was also a member of an amateur boxing club in Liverpool when he was younger.

Misfits fights are not played under the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control, so Rooney would not be competing professionally.

Rooney was famously involved in a boxing altercation with former United team-mate Phil Bardsley in 2015.

The pair boxed in Rooney's kitchen and the former England captain appeared to be knocked out in footage that was released at the time.

Bardsley has since confirmed the truth behind the incident, confirming Rooney was out cold for 'a couple of seconds'.

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Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney was sacked as Birmingham manager in January

Getty

He said: "I think it was a Sunday afternoon, and there were a couple of games on. We went round a local, watched the football, had a couple of pints, it was all very calm and sociable.

"Then the bar was filling up, more people coming up and I thought ‘it’s getting a bit busy this’ and it was getting a bit boisterous, so Wayne said ‘we’ll go back to mine for a drink’.

"I dragged my brother and a couple of people that he knew along and went back to his.

"We were having a drink, having a laugh, he was playing the guitar, and then the next minute these boxing gloves appear and I was thinking ‘what’s going on here?’

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has always been a boxing fan and was part of an amateur club when young

Getty

"My brother steps up, has a little go with Wazza, and I was like ‘give me them, I’ll have a go’.

"He’s (Rooney) throwing a few bombs, and he’s a big lad and strong. We’re exchanging blows, and he just walked into a jab.

"He was out a couple of seconds and we were all panicking. I didn’t know what to do, everyone was panic stations!

"He comes around and goes to the sink, I’ve got a big cut lip, blood everywhere, he’s got a bit of blood, we were running it under the sink and we just looked at each other and laughed."

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