Kai Rooney Makes His Competitive Debut at Old Trafford

Kai Rooney stepped into the spotlight on Friday, following in the illustrious footsteps of his father, Wayne Rooney, by making his first competitive appearance at Manchester United’s iconic Old Trafford during an FA Youth Cup match.

With Wayne observing from the stands, Kai entered the game as a substitute in the 99th minute of an intense clash against Derby County, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Manchester United after extra time, propelling the team into the quarterfinals of this esteemed youth tournament.

The 16-year-old winger was introduced while the score remained level, and shortly after his entrance, goals from Luca Crolla and Chido Obi secured the win for the under-18 squad, overseen by Darren Fletcher, a former teammate of Wayne’s.

Wayne and his wife, Coleen, witnessed this significant milestone from the directors’ box, accompanied by Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and other members of the senior coaching staff.

Previously, Kai had scored for United in a U18 League Cup match held at Carrington, the team’s training base, but Friday marked his first official match at Old Trafford.

Kai joined Manchester United’s academy at the age of 11 in 2020, three years after Wayne departed from the club following a distinguished 13-year tenure, during which he secured every major club accolade and became the team’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances.

Earlier in the day, Kai teased his participation in the match by sharing an Instagram photo of himself with his father on the Old Trafford pitch as a young child, reflecting on their shared journey in the world of football.