Happy 40th Wayne! Pranks, Corrie & a scrap with Calzaghe

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1:07Discover the V-Series line-up at Cadillac.com. I hate parties. Oh, nerd day. And he goes, all right, Joe. Hi, Wayne. Good to have you. I'm looking at it, you're joking me. so I've just pulled my clothes off and I've pulled their behind me the clothes off so there go three, two, one when it dives in I look back and them two just laughing their heads off

1:41Oi, this proper looks like a kid's birthday but it takes me back What is it? It's not Jake Like Keith and Nicole Pulas are installed it. Wailers are installed it. Oh that takes rank.

2:03Yeah Tessa I haven't had that kind of drink for years. They've changed all the, do you know what the sugar tax ruined my childhood, it's ruined all your drinks now like they've just filled them with sweetness and now you're not allowed refills either. No full sugar ones, you're only allowed like diet refills. restricting like It's the law isn't it, you're not allowed to have too much sugar. Okay well this is a slightly different episode of the show because Wayne, it's your big birthday. How are you feeling about being 40? I don't know. I don't know if I feel old or young. I was talking about this the other week saying if I was 70 and then you say like what would you do to go back to being 40?

2:43Alright. You'd enjoy yourself. So that's how I'm looking at it. So you're enjoying yourself? I was 70, we'll have gone back to 40. So I'm going to enjoy it even more. Okay. Okay. That's quite, I thought that was quite a deep start to be honest. This is a party with a difference, Kate. I like that you've embraced it. I'm embracing it, man. This is what you've got to do. When you turn up to Wayne Rooney's birthday party, you've got to get in the spirit, bro. Come on. You've got the hat and it's like. My head's huge. This is why. So is mine. That's why I'm not wearing it. This street is hanging on for dear life.

3:14I swear to you. By the end of this show, it's going to hurt a little bit. Now this is a slightly special episode because we do want to kind of celebrate your 40 years so far. So we're going to have a few special guests. Firstly, did you think that Paul had maybe dressed up a bit today? A little bit. I've said it before. He's got all Man City clothes on, even his socks though. Yeah, let's bring in your agent, Paul Stretford, and long-term friend. Paul, welcome to the show. Thank you. Paul is always here during the recordings, always watching, been influential in getting this show off the ground.

3:48But not only that, you've been with Wayne. How long have you known Wayne, Paul, firstly? Since he was 16. Wow. Long time. Long time. And what's it been like being his agent, manager, friend, and probably a lot of other things during that period? It's quite honestly been one of the best things ever that happened in my life. He's a, what tends to annoy me is people don't realise how genuine a guy he is, which I know you two do now. He's a proper, proper person, down to earth, and he has a lot to give to people. He's a people person, really. Something that's come across from working with him and getting to know him through the show is just a normal lad that was quite good at football and was catapulted onto the world stage at such a young age, and you were there to witness that.

4:34What was that like? Well, that day when he was catapulted to the world was mayhem, to be honest, because I think, first of all, I think, didn't Moisey want you to wear a tie? Was that when we wanted you to wear a tie? I was just tucked into one of his birthday sweets, Paul. You've got a suite. You've got a tie. And always going, and it's actually fitting, because that night was when I won the Young Sports Press. And I had a chewing gum with a high dress when I was the host. Like he's doing now. I was chewing like that. And I had a tie, but I didn't tie it all the way up. And I hated wearing suits, so I got hammered for it in the press, but Colleen was meant to come and borrow money off her mum to buy a dress.

5:18Moisey Banda wouldn't let her come because we were 118. So it was in London, the award. So yeah, I got a bit of stiff because I didn't know the etiquette of going to Sports Personality Awards. I was wearing the tactics, they were good. And to be honest, that just shows you what the mayhem of it is and the mayhem that went on from there, which was catapulted by his ability and by the force of nature that he was and is. it was just unfortunate that we decide we think we're not into being a class society anymore but back in them days it was definitely, oh here's this lad what would he know, and the way he was treated from that and carried forward was difficult but if anyone could handle it, he could because the mental resilience that he has, he had that at 16.

6:16Did he? Yeah, definitely had that at 16 So what would you say were the biggest challenges were at that period? I think media management was a real difficult challenge. You know, he's talked about it on a number of these podcasts. That was a difficult challenge. And people think that because of his nature, it doesn't hurt. It did hurt him and it hurt those around him a lot more. So I think that was the most difficult thing. Once he was on a pitch, that was his place. No one was going to be better than him. How would you describe your relationship with Wayne and how it's changed over the years because he's been and seen so much football's taken him around the world?

7:03Oh, birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. From one scouser to another. To you, Julia. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. For those who are listening to this as a podcast rather than watching it on iFail or YouTube, big Evertonian and, of course, boxer Tony Bellew has just joined the party and come in with a birthday cake. Tony, thanks for coming to the party. How are you, mate? How are you doing, mate? You all right? OK, how are you, mate? Hello, Tony. It's all right. It's all right. You can crash this party. We're happy to have you. We were just hearing Paul say some really nice things about Wayne.

7:39I'm sure you've got some less nice things to add. And about me. No, that's all right. And Waz is a good lad. What do you want me to go to? What can I possibly add? Yeah, he's my mate, so he's one of the boys, isn't he? How did that friendship start? I first met Waz, I can't remember. Some of the memories I hadn't. Sitting up in my dressing room was quite funny. I was waking up off the ring floor. Yeah, thank you. Jesus Christ. He showed up in my dressing room on multiple occasions, but we've got to know each other over the years. And he's a diamond. I think he's misunderstood. he's a lot more outgoing and a lot funnier than people actually get and he's got an art of gold so yeah he's a funny boy but turning up in them dressing rooms in the early days Jesus Christ that was lively Tell us more That was a good job you've won anyway Yeah most of the time I was winning them I think he's only turned up to one defeat and yeah he was always a good laugh into the dressing room full of laughs and listen when you was it everyone wants a piece of him and it's very, very difficult and he's had that life since he was 7, 16, 17 where everyone always wants a piece of him so coming into a box environment in a dressing room everyone's there being part of my team in Portland but they're all like wait, he's just walked in can we just get a picture we can do this so it's hard for him to just relax and chill out but when he finally does get a chance to relax and chill out he's all like you know, he's not too bad He'd come into our dressing room when I went back to Everton obviously Tony was the king of Finch Farm I wasn't he was the king of Finch Farm so I went back and I remember I was getting a massage off Jimmy the massage and then Tony you do a lot of your training there when you're four fights and stuff and then Tony walk in and then he's like what happened Saturday what's going on there how did you lose that game he was like he was like me, Bainsey and Jags and I was like oh Jesus Christ I've always been around them and as I said when my eyes came home it was brilliant you know seeing him around the lads and I remember seeing him as a kid and I was young and I was obviously a little bit younger than me the first time I'd ever seen Wayne was at Goodison Park and it was before the game was kicking off and you know they've been warmed up and they're about to go in and get into the proper kit and stuff like that and he was about to run in, he was the last one to go in, there was a ball left on the half way line and he goes he gets to the tunnel but he looks back at it and it's like he's like one of them kids who can't leave stuff alone and he's seen this ball on the half way line and he's looked, he's gone back and he's as if to say you know what, I'm just going to hit this and he walked up, he didn't even run, he just walked up with two or three steps and he hit this ball and I swear I have never seen a bottle struck so clean Bear in mind, I've been at Edmonton Football Club since I was nine, ten years of age.

10:43And this ball went straight in the top corner and go touching the floor from the halfway line. And everyone just jumped up. No one really knew who he was. It was just like, oh my Lord, what have we just witnessed? And he just bowed, put his head down and ran down the tunnel. But as he told me many years later, he tried that about 500 times. I just happened to be there on the one I came off on. Boxing's a big part of your life as well, isn't it? Yeah, I love boxing. So it's, it's my, I think of late, you know, obviously Tony, we had Liam Smith, all the lads from Liverpool who've gone on to be world champions.

11:21But I think Tony's one was, it was emotional because you knew, obviously, Tony is very emotional as well. Unfortunately. No, but he doesn't hide, you know, his love for everything as well as his family and fighting and stuff. and that fight at Goodison when he's winning the title at Goodison Park was, I think for everyone who knows Tony was just like a special moment for us all to witness and so yeah, in boxing, I've tried, I've probably phoned Tony a few times when I've had a few things saying come on I'll be getting in the ring for all Tony on. Any time I've had that phone call wow he thinks he can take me and do me he never stops he never ends you know what?

12:02Have you seen him box? Yes. Is it good? Any good? Wayne can, can fight yes I wish no I don't wish actually no I don't that's a wrong word to say he has he does have ability he's a sportsman he's a professional athlete but he's talented across different sports he could have definitely fought 100 % and then you've got to look at you know his uncle Richie who's a mate of mine I've known him for a long long time Richie Rooney who's you know ran Crocs with ABC from the get go is a brilliant coach he's spent time in there you know his nephew now Boxers who plays for Everton as well and Little Shea there's that many of them and they're all fantastic sportsmen it's just the way he named Rooney it could take too many I swear to God you'll probably find that Rooney table tennis player or it's just the really good sportsman's brother John they're just the quality sportsmen and I say boxing is I've said this from the get-go boxing is probably 70 % mental and 30 % physical you don't get to the levels he's got without being mentally strong.

13:06He would adapt that and he would use it to his advantage and he would figure a way through it without a shadow of a doubt. So yeah, I wouldn't doubt him in a boxing ring. Talking about boxing for my wedding. We know the story. With Joe Calzaghi. What have you done? So I was looking after Joe at the time. Okay. And so Joe came to the wedding. Wayne's there, of course. Yeah. And we've had a few drinks. You know what's going on, I'm going to hear. He offers Joe Calzaghi out. So he says, and I'm sitting there talking to them both, and he goes, all right, Joe. Hi, Wayne. Good to have you. I said, I'm looking, I think, you're joking me.

13:48On my wedding day. He's going to be like, just calm down, I just want to do a bit of shadowboxing with him. So we go out, and we go on to the green outside. But this is still at your wedding? The middle of my wedding. So we go out, and I said to Joe, just like Joe's going yeah yeah don't worry it's nothing so he goes out first thing so Joe's just sort of stood there easing to the ribs

14:21that's bad enough saying it to anybody let alone someone that went undefeated their whole career yeah exactly I think I've seen him he was a bit vulnerable he'd had a few things he might be the first I might give him his first defeat. I'm thinking Joe's going to react. As I've hated, he never reacted to stuff like that, but he only just challenged the greatest fighter Britain's ever produced. You know what I mean? Fantastic. No, it's good. But that's Wayne, eh? It is. He's lively. And yeah, he's even more lively if he's had a pint. As most men are, to be honest, to be fair. We're all the same.

14:57We're all children who have never really grown up. And Waz is one of the biggest children I've ever met. Have you ever been tempted? Because you get linked with misfits and stuff like that quite a lot, don't you? No, you get asked to go and do misfits and all that. I think some of the... You look at Jake Paul now, he's a good boxer. He's a very good KSI as well. Whatever, but it's a bit of fun and mess around, yeah. I think it's something that's been... That's Phil Veldler. It's gone on. it's gone on in their family for years and as I said he's watched cousins you know brothers all of them do it and his uncle so it's the natural thing but fighting and training are two totally different things when you get in a ring and you're fighting and the other guy wants to hit you it's a different ballgame it's not like sparring it's not like training it's a it's it's a different animal altogether so but also you've got to be really motivated to want to get in that ring there has to be like something else apart from like just oh it's misfits well I think as you see it when like with Tony when you see fighters and you if you do speak to them before a fight and it's the build up to the fight lead like he's a completely different person yeah then to what he is now of course where they're in that zone and it's which we have a switch they need to get to he'll have that before game time you know he'll be in a dressing room and ready to walk out and play in front of 50, 60, 100 ,000, whatever they're playing in front of, a flick gets switched and it's just, it's that fight or flight moment.

16:38And some people have got it, some people haven't. Waz has got it because he's been doing it on a big stage of football for that many years. And I've got it, obviously, with what I've done in my sport, but we all have our own individual talents. Not everyone's set out to be a sportsman. It's hard, you know, in my opinion, the hardest job in the world is to be, just to get up and be a decent parent. day in, day out. There's no job that's harder. And believe it or not, there's no book on how to be a perfect parent because if there was, it'd be the greatest selling book the world's ever seen. So my, you know, my, my things that I think about is, you know, them people that are going out doing nine to fives, them people that are working really hard, your bim and your normal nine to five daily people that are grafting every day and going to be a great parent.

17:23They're the ones that I really look to as if, wow, you know, what you're doing is unbelievable. Tony, we know you've got to get off quite soon, but what's your favourite Wayne memory? I've got that many. Give us the top three if you want. Maybe one on the field and one off the field. Go on. So our boys were playing against each other. His lab plays for Everton, the man plays for United. We're playing against each other. So I know it's the first time I've been there when Tony's been there. So I know he's a bit loud on the touchline. It's an understatement that was. He's being very kind. I'm just constantly shut up.

17:57I don't need to be shouting now, they're just kids, let them play. So honestly, for about 10 minutes, I could see them like,

18:07I'm always shouting encouragement to the kids. Why are you blues? I always encourage the kids. I never shout instructions because these people have forgot more about football than I'll ever know, but I'm always encouraging them. You're doing great, keep going, push to the next one, press, close down, you're doing great, work, work, work. So yeah. We're glad you're on soccer, aren't we? You've done your... Unfortunately, yeah. I've snapped my Achilles on that. That was absolutely fantastic. I didn't even know you until after the game. Coach, I didn't. 25 years of fighting and the worst injury to my life was me Achilles snapping at soccer.

18:40Yeah, I walked off, to be fair. I mean, Usain Bolt got stretched off screaming on gas today. Absolutely. The year before, I walked off. I'd watched a clip of Kobe Bryant a couple of weeks before where he walks off the court. Oh, yeah. And I just thought to me, I've got two ways of going out here. like Usain screaming and scrying on a stretch. But you had something before the game, didn't you? My calf was tight. Your calf? My calf was tight and I was rubbing the deep heat into it and I just thought, I'll be alright, just crack on. And then that bang, the noise I heard, I thought someone had shot me in Old Trafford and I just thought it of all the times.

19:13Was there anybody around you? Because sometimes people think like... I went to sprint after the girl who'd run past me and the bang was just so... I mean he was in Old Trafford and I clearly heard the bang. I thought oh I can't believe I've been shot in Old Trafford and then I thought the pain weren't that bad at first and then I went to walk well I went to run and then my leg was floppy my foot was floppy Was he sympathetic when he found out? No she was she was probably laughing his head off I can't believe that I asked you your best Wayne memories and you've turned it into one of the most terrific injuries of your life No but me best memory the Arsenal goal I was at that game that was amazing what he done was it the West Hamish from the halfway line.

19:53I stand with only a trick in the halfway line. I won't lie, I was hoping you were going to tell us about some parties or some kind of off-field stuff. No, stay, no. They're not. No, no, they're not for these kind of cameras. It's worth a try. They're personal moments that we like to keep between us. He can dance and he can move. I mean, we sat up here. Can he sing? This is something he keeps mentioning. I think he thinks he can when he's at the bevy. He thinks he can have a fight when he's at the bevy. He thinks he can sing when he's at the bevy. he thinks he can do absolutely anything against Heather Bevy but the reality of it is he's not the best singer now to be fair to him he can't have a scrap and he's really good at football with or without a Bevy so did you go Leeds United away when he scored?

20:39yes when he does Lucas Rotherby yeah then goes to his legs but the picture from that I think there's I don't know if you know Jed Aldo there's R.U.G there's some of your family and friends jumped on the pitch I'd scored so then the pitcher I didn't even know I'm just thinking there's all fans all like and then the pitcher was in the paper the next day it was like my uncle here my mate here just a family photo basically Crochies on the pitch at Ellen Road the whole of Crochies so yeah the first time we beat him in 50 years at Ellen Road he's created so many great memories but you want to ask him what are his favourite memories like I said I've got loads but I've known these days he's my mate and getting to know him it has been a pleasure and coming back home was brilliant for me when he comes back to Finch Farm and I've seen it the first time bear in mind I've been going to Finch Farm for about eight nine years at this stage and I've been training for me fighting preparing there so when a dressing room and a physio table and stuff like that the pretty sacred place in football clubs not like you shouldn't be in there but I was getting treatment one day I wasn't off coma I think it was off one of the other physios and Waz is on the bed and you just come up and pinch him on the neck and he was still two the f***ing hells that same round dog because all the other players like they don't really give him that kind of abuse or give him that much stick I'd just do whatever and he just turned on to say he was going to say oh all right what are you doing here wasn't the response you give the others but yeah he's a great laugh he's a he's a diamond and and I think it's great that's what you're doing as well.

22:15I think it's been brilliant. I've been watching that. I catch it on social media and stuff like that. So it's really good and you are a funny chap, young boy. Oh, look at that. You're really, you're hilarious. So yeah, keep doing what you're doing. I think you're doing brilliant. We'll have to get you on more often. Yeah. I don't know about that, like, but you know, no one wants to look at my ugly mug that much, Strat. I've got that much on and I have to run it by the boss first, whatever she is. You know what I mean? And if my wife moan too long. I want to tell a Tony Bell new story. Okay, go on then.

22:44So when Colleen was going into the jungle and she couldn't tell anyone, there was one person she left me wrong was Tony. And the things he said to her was what she did, wasn't it? Which was be yourself and you'll be fine. And she was really nervous about going in. We were at the kids' fuzzy weren't we? We were at the kids' fuzzy. We had a tournament weren't we? No. And I got wind that she was going and obviously no one knew it, so I'd gone over and had a to chat with her. And she now knows, it's time to give someone the tips of, if only I knew when I went in. Things like smoky water, everything you drink, it just tastes of smoke.

23:21And you better make sure when you go on a trial, you empty that bottle and you fill it up with your water cancelling. Everyone's going now. I remember thinking my first night there, at about 12 o 'clock, they're going to go, right guys, come on, we go to the hotel now, we'll come back here in the morning. And I was lying there about half 12, looking up at this guy, thinking, no one's coming, Harry. I thought, I'm definitely sleeping here. And these noises I'm going to have to listen to all night. And it's just little things like that. But listen, what she's done, she's been amazing. She's done absolutely fantastic.

23:50And it's a crime that she didn't get to win it, to be honest. It's absolutely disgraceful. Two Scousers, two years running. I'm about to finish second. It's just the fact of the Southerners didn't want to let us Northerners win it. That's what it is. And on that note, I'm all done. Guys, thank you very much.

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24:45I think I feel like Tony summed up a lot of what you were trying to say about Wayne really well there about him as a person Better than I did to be fair Well no he did rudely interrupt you a little bit didn't he you were mid flow I think I was asking you about what it's been like to manage him through the rollercoaster of playing and management Listen there's been ups and downs of it He's only 40 in them Yeah Don't ask me Actually, I didn't have grey hair when I first started representing him. But there's been some ups and downs. But you know what? Wayne's dealt with everything and we're a team.

25:19We're a partnership. And people say, you know, he's agents and so on. The one thing I do know, what me and Wayne have isn't usual in football. And I was in football a long time before Wayne came along with lots of players. It's not a usual thing. and we are a partnership and we respect each other. We know each other inside out and, yeah, it works. But that's through his fortitude because there's lots of temptations to go on, you know, can you go here? And when I actually signed Wayne, everyone was after Wayne and were for a long time afterwards. So we stuck around a long time and now is the next phase of his life.

26:08I'm coming to the end of mine, so hopefully it's not too soon. How influential has Paul been for everything you've done? Because it feels like, Paul saying that there about it's not usual in football, it does feel like your relationship is a bit more of a friendship as well. Yeah, it is. I think it was like 15, 16 is when I met Paul and me mum and dad, we met loads of different agents who come to our house and I didn't really have an interest in any of them who come and then I used to lie on the floor in front of the fire just asleep in the age and would be speaking to me and dad and I weren't really that interested and then Paul come and to be honest the reason I was interested first is because I looked outside and he had a green Aston Martin I wonder if you'll let me drive it that was the next thing but no and then And then obviously I spoke to my mum and dad and we liked Paul and asked them to be my agents.

27:10And then from there, you see players with different agents and they're trying to do whatever and then they don't speak to Paul every day. I've done since I was 16. So it's a friendship. Families are close. I've got a daughter to one of his daughters so yeah I don't see her as oh there's me agent obviously times when I need them to go in and negotiate and be me agent that's the time but it's more of a friendship What's your biggest head in hands moment that you can say on this show with Wayne? Or a funny story because you must, I mean the wedding one was pretty good that you told with Tony but I imagine you could write a good book on it Yeah Yeah.

28:00No, you just never know because he's just so, he is naturally funny and he'll create funny situations. Oh, I'll give you one. He actually went on to win this. So I was at, in fact, you were there, Kay, with him at the Legends dinner. So I was at a Legends dinner once and he was playing in the Champions League. So I'm looking at the time. Phone call comes in from Wayne. He should be playing. Has he been left out? And I get, hello, lad. I'm in the dressing room. I said, really? What's up? I've been sent off. I said, are you joking me? So I'm thinking, he's gone and done some more. I said, what did you get sent off for?

28:51Applauding the referee. So it's like, I've got a table of about 25 people around me. We're in the middle of a dinner and I'm thinking, no, no. It can't be a sense of for applauding the referee. It's Roma, wasn't it? I think it was. I've been around, sorry, yeah. Yeah, so. Paul, thank you so much. That was a lovely tribute to Wayne. He looks a bit uncomfortable with it. He's a bit like, he's never been this nice, has he? Have I died or something? I'll tell you what, let's bring in some other mates. Brucie! How you doing, Paul? Are you all right? Are you OK, mate? I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.

29:26I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I've not even seen enough of these the last few days. Right, we have just been joined on the show by two friends and former teammates of Wayne, Alex Bruce and Darren Gibson. Yeah, first questions first. We obviously know you had a bit of an interesting weekend away for Wayne's 40th. Who were you guys? To say the least. Me and my wife were Danny Zuko and Sandy. I've gelled the hair. It's looking a bit fluffier today. It looked better, though. I said that to you, the name. You should keep it like that. I know. I was lame Liam Gallagher went safe not one poor dress no it's a lot safer than what Colleen what did he look like he's described it to us in last week's show he's high he's he had more outfits than Freddie Mercury himself he had every one did you the pink one no I had two Freddie Mercury ones the pink one didn't last for very long didn't it no no that was the Hoover yeah I think Colleen knew because she got me the one with the dress in scared and she knew that I'd take her off quite quick.