It’s been more than 20 years since that iconic picture of Wayne Rooney hilariously licking a giant lollipop alongside Coleen was snapped.
The photo, taken all the way back during the England legend’s Everton days, sent fans into hysterics. Rooney has regularly been playfully mocked over the snap, which has even been used as inspiration for some viral Halloween costumes.
And this week the Man United legend, now very much with his playing days behind him, was at-last reunited with the famous lollipop.
On the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, the 39-year-old was presented with a remake of the item by his co-hosts, prompting him to amusingly recall the reason why he bought the sweet treat all those years ago.
Rooney said while chuckling: ‘Do you know the reason I bought that?
‘I seen it, and the only reason I bought it was to smash it up!’
It’s been more than 20 years since the iconic photo of Wayne Rooney with his giant lollipop was snapped
But this week the Man United legend was reunited with the viral sweet treat, hilariously admitting he only bought it to ‘smash it up’
But not only did the pap-snap go viral for the lollipop back in 2003, but also for Rooney’s peculiar choice of outfit on the Portuguese coast.
The Englishman was pictured sporting some incredibly short shorts and a navy tank top – an outfit humorously replicated by a football fan in 2022.
Alex Williamson, a self-proclaimed Wayne Rooney super-fan, donned an almost identical outfit for Halloween of that year which incredibly found its way back to the man himself.
Commenting on Alex’s post of his costume on X, the former England striker saw the funny side, replying: ‘Great effort (laughing face emoji, thumbs up emoji).’
Explaining the inspiration behind his outfit at the time, Alex told LadBible: ‘Rooney was an icon of mine on the pitch and then off the pitch with his fashion.
‘Ever since I saw the famous picture of him and the United squad out in town in their bootcut clobber, I’ve been an avid fan.
‘I spent the evening watching Rooney’s first 100 PL goals before heading to my mate’s for a house party. The reaction I got from my mates at the party was that I’d smashed it.
‘I thought I’d get some replies on social media but not for it to take off like it has. I’m getting a notification per second!’
Back in 2022 a Wayne Rooney fan, Alex Williamson, funnily dressed up in the footballer’s iconic holiday outfit for Halloween
The hilarious throwback moment for Rooney came during a week where he discussed more serious matters, namely Manchester United’s dismal start to the season
The hilarious throwback moment for Rooney came during a week where he discussed more serious matters, namely Manchester United’s dismal start to the season.
Ruben Amorim’s men sit 14th in the Premier League after losing half of their opening six games. They’re also out of the Carabao Cup having lost to League Two minnows Grimsby Town.
And speaking on his podcast this week, Rooney admitted he ‘has no faith’ those at the club will be able to turn their dire form around.
‘It’s just not good enough from the managers, the coaches, the players,’ he said.
‘I’ve tried my hand at management, and it didn’t work out too well, so I get it,’ the former Derby County and Birmingham City manager added.
‘Ruben Amorim is my age, a bit younger, he’s still a young manager. I’m sure he has a great future. But what is going on at Man United? I don’t recognise the whole football club.
‘I honestly hope he can turn it round and he does. But if you’re saying to me, ‘do you believe he will?’, then, after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I’ve got no faith in it.’
But the former Premier League icon did not stop there, instead sharing the blame over the team’s fortunes with some of the players.
‘I don’t see players fighting, I don’t see character, I don’t see a desire to win, I don’t see ability, I don’t see match winners, nothing that gets me off my feet,’ he continued.
‘I go to watch the team and think, ‘here we go again. we’re going to lose, or maybe nick a point’. This is not Man United.’
The Red Devils face Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.
