Wayne Rooney reveals LeBron James & Kobe Bryant interrupted his Las Vegas honeymoon with Coleen as Man Utd legend explains unlikely connection with NBA royalty

Wayne and Coleen, married in 2008, had travelled to Sin City for what they hoped would be a quiet escape, only for LeBron and Kobe to crash their romantic getaway in the most unexpected of ways. It all started when the Rooneys found themselves at a bar. To their surprise, the U.S. Olympic basketball team, including James and Bryant, was also in the same spot. What followed was an unforgettable encounter that included a brush with security.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Showon BBC Sport, the former striker said: "I remember years ago I went to Phil Knight's retirement dinner and it was surreal. I think I was 19 and I went with Ian Rush because Ian Rush was the first football player to wear Nike boots. And I was the young one up and coming. And we got in and there was Michael Jordan, LeBron James, all the top athletes from Nike over the years. So I spoke to LeBron a little bit there. I think he was a year or two older than me."

Fast forward a couple of years, and Rooney was once again crossing paths with James. This time, however, it wasn’t at an elite event but rather in the middle of his honeymoon.

"Me and Coleen were in Las Vegas for our honeymoon," Rooney began. "So then the U.S. Olympic basketball team came into this bar where we were, and it was all cornered off. Kobe Bryant was there, LeBron, all these massive superstars. And I went over because I'd seen LeBron when we were in Portland (for the retirement party). 

"And because I'd spoken to a few times I went over to say hello, and the security went: 'Please step away from the table sir.' So I was like, 'It's OK'. So I went to the toilet and I came back and LeBron sees me and shouts me over. So we went over and chatted and I took pictures with a few of the players and pictures of me and Coleen in general throughout the night."

If their run-in with James wasn’t enough to make their honeymoon unforgettable, the Rooneys’ late-night McDonald’s adventure certainly sealed the deal. After their star-studded encounter, Wayne and Coleen found themselves craving some comfort food. They drove to a McDonald's in the early hours of the morning, but as they arrived, they were hit with a setback - the fast-food restaurant was closed to walk-ins.

"Anyway, in the morning we went to McDonald's about 7am," he continued. "And as we're going, the McDonald's is closed and you could only go through the drive-through. So I actually was pushing...it sounds a bit mad, I was pushing Coleen in a shopping trolley. And you've got a car in front, you've got me with Coleen in the trolley, and a car behind us."

For the Rooneys, their bond has stood the test of time, enduring not only the pressures of their public lives but also the trials that come with being together since their teenage years. Despite the ups and downs, the couple has managed to stay close, with Coleen candidly admitting that some of Wayne’s "daft behaviour" has "scarred" her over the years.