Just over 24 years ago, a 16-year-old footballing phenomenon called Wayne Rooney made his mark with that goal for Everton against Arsenal.
Fast-forward to now and his eldest son, Kai, enhanced his burgeoning reputation while in action for Manchester United‘s Under 18s on Tuesday.
The 16-year-old, who turns 17 on Monday, scored four goals for the young Red Devils in a 6-0 thrashing of Burnley‘s U18s in the Under-18 Premier League North.
His four goals showed his repertoire of skills as the forward scored two with his preferred left foot, one with his head and the other a fine run that was finished with his right foot.
His four goals came in 44 minutes across half-time – with the latter three coming in a devastating 15-minute second-half spell (49, 63 and 66 minutes).
As Manchester United’s own match report on their website details the teenager ‘was the star of a clinical showing after the break from Darren Fletcher’s side’.
Kai Rooney scored four goals for Manchester United U18s as they thrashed Burnley U18s 6-0
One of his goals came was a penalty during Tuesday’s Under-18 Premier League North fixture
Rooney’s father Wayne scored that goal against Arsenal as a 16-year-old for Everton in 2002
Rooney then followed that performance with another goal in Saturday’s comeback 4-1 win at Blackburn Rovers U18s, although he was later sent off for two bookable offences.
Just like his dad Wayne, Kai is fixated on football and is following in his father’s footsteps in a number of ways.
As detailed by Daily Mail Sport in January, one of those is with regards to diet.
Akin to his famous father – who is United’s all-time record goalscorer – in his Old Trafford heyday, Rooney Jr eats plenty of carbohydrates two days before a game. This then changes to salmon and rice followed by rice pudding the night before matches.
His dietary discipline has been recognised by those within the United academy – who are impressed by Rooney’s focus.
The teenager does allow himself some respite at times though with the family’s go-to is Chinese takeaway ‘WowYauChow’ in Altrincham. As revealed in Manchester United Confidential, crispy chilli beef is a particular favourite of the rising footballer.
Cooking has also become a passion for Rooney off-the-pitch and he is also fluent in Spanish – a trait that will only stand him in good stead in the multicultural world of football.
Rooney has had to deal with accusations of nepotism, due to the legendary figure of who his dad is, but he has always wanted to form his own path – even from a younger age than he is now.
‘Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff, because he used to get swarmed, and he couldn’t even watch the game,’ his mum Coleen explained during her time in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle almost two years ago.
Kai is pictured with parents Coleen and Wayne signing his Man United contract when younger
Rooney is fixated with football like his father but wants to forge his own career within the sport
‘How do you say to all of these kids, “Go away, I’m watching my son?” Adults, it’s different, you could speak to them, so he [Kai] just said, “Oh, dad, there’s no point you coming because you don’t even watch me play anyway”. Which is sad, but it can’t be helped.’
Speaking in August 2024, Rooney underlined that he is intent on doing things his own way.
‘I’m trying to make a name for myself, not try and be my dad because I’m my own person,’ Kai said back in August 2024.
‘I want to see how my career goes, obviously try to do the best I can and try to reach the biggest stages.
‘I’m just focusing on me and to try to not let any pressure get to me and just keep working on me day by day, month by month.’
Rooney Jr has copied his father’s diet when he was a professional – which includes salmon
His parents, meanwhile, have been keen to stress that they are keeping the pressure off their young son.
‘He has great coaches at Manchester United, so I take a stand-off approach,’ Wayne told the BBC last year.
‘I speak to him, but for me it’s all about his mentality and his mindset, to make sure he keeps enjoying it – that’s the main thing for me.’
Meanwhile Coleen told The Times earlier this year: ‘He’s lived it (being Wayne’s son) from a young age. When we used to go to matches when he was younger, he’d get a lot of people coming up saying, “Oh, are you Wayne Rooney’s son?”
‘But he’s strong-minded, always has been. I’ve got no worries in the way he deals with it.’
A Puma ambassador since he was 12, Kai used to play football in laceless boots after previously breaking both of his feet.
The youngster was signed up by Puma at the age of 12 – and has pursued a football career
Against Burnley his boots had laces as he tied his opponents in knots, something he will look to continue to do as he makes his own way in the game.
And while replicating his father seems fanciful, the iconic ‘remember the name’ piece of commentary could be updated for Kai in the future.
READ: Wayne Rooney’s son Kai, 16, scores FOUR goals for Man United youth team as Under 18s thrash Burnley
