Wayne Rooney made his debut for Derby on Thursday, in his big return to English football.
And cheering him on from the stands were wife Coleen, and eldest sons Kai, 10, and Klay, six, who watched the footballer in his new role as player/coach.
Opting to leave younger sons Kit, three, and Cass, 23-months, tucked up at home, Coleen sat with Klay on her lap as Kai watched eagerly from behind them.
Support: Cheering Wayne Rooney on from the stands were wife Coleen, and eldest sons Kai, 10, and Klay, six, who watched the footballer in his new role as team captain for Derby on Thursday
Coleen wore a pink windbreaker – still managing to bring some WAG glam to proceedings with an expertly applied face of make-up.
She tied her brunette tresses back from her features as she balanced Klay on her knees, smiling as she watched her husband of 12 years.
Klay kept his grey hoodie up over his head as Kai sported a black sweater in the background.
At one point Coleen stifled a yawn as the game continued into the evening – with Derby ultimately emerging victorious.
Back at it: Wayne made his debut for Derby on Thursday, in his big return to English football
Biggest fans: Opting to leave younger sons Kit, three, and Cass, 23-months, Coleen sat with Klay on her lap as Kai watched eagerly from behind them
Wayne impressed on his Derby County debut as he provided a stunning assist in a 2-1 win over Barnsley at Pride Park.
The 34-year-old was named in Derby County’s starting XI and handed the captain’s armband for the Rams’ clash with Barnsley, with boss Philip Cocu previously hinting that Rooney would make his debut as a substitute.
This was not the case, with the soccer player being thrown straight into the action in a bid to revive his struggling side.
Wayne Rooney provided the free-kick for Jack Marriott’s opener in Derby’s clash with Barnsley
Rooney also had a hand in Derby’s second as he found Andre Wisdom with a brilliant pass
The 34-year-old barked orders from a central midfield role in a 4-4-2 formation
Rooney is tasked with injecting new life into a Derby team sat in 17th place in the Championship table ahead of the game.
And he achieved that early doors as he provided an assist from a free-kick for Jack Marriott to put Derby ahead before the half-time break.
In the second half Rooney could and should have scored Derby’s second but he miscued his header from just a few yards out, as the ball dribbled wide.
He was in the thick of the action again as he hit a brilliant crossfield pass to Andre Wisdom, who crossed for Martyn Waghorn, who made it 2-1.
Rooney was named in Derby County’s starting XI for their clash with Barnsley on Thursday
The 34-year-old was also handed the captain’s armband for his Rams debut at Pride Park
Rooney was given the No 32 shirt as part of agreement with shirt sponsor 32 Red
The Rams were beaten 2-1 by Charlton on Monday and are without a win since beating Preston North End 1-0 on November 23 – a run spanning eight games.
Rooney was used as a midfielder by Cocu, where he played regularly during his final seasons at Manchester United.
It was revealed back in August that Rooney would join the Rams in January as a player-coach on an initial 18-month deal.
Rooney showed that he’d lost none of his fire as he dished out several verbal volleys
Derby boss Philip Cocu called Rooney over to the touchline for tactical instructions
Rooney also put in several key tackles as he impressed on his first appearance for the club
Rooney still had more than two seasons remaining on his contract at DC United but cited a desire to be closer to his family back in England.
The 34-year-old enjoyed a successful period in the MLS, scoring 23 goals in 41 league games for the Washington-based club.
Prior to his move to America, Rooney spent 13 years at Manchester United between 2004 and 2017, where he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals.
Rooney also achieved the same feat for England, scoring 53 goals in 120 appearances for the Three Lions before retiring from international football in November 2018.
Wayne Rooney could not manage a goal on his return to English football but produced two moments of quality that showed he can still make an impact at the sharp end of the game.
Given the captaincy by Derby boss Phillip Cocu on his first competitive appearance in this country since April 2018, Rooney displayed his enduring class when he delivered a laser-guided free-kick to create the opening goal for Jack Marriott, before his glorious crossfield pass started a move that ended with Martyn Waghorn restoring Derby’s lead.
Although he did well to last the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time, it was clear from his debut that Rooney, a great of the Premier League era, will need time to gain the sharpness required.
Wayne Rooney provided an assist on his Derby debut in a home victory over Barnsley
Martyn Waghorn wheels away after scoring Derby’s second goal of the evening at Pride Park
For now, his mere presence is enough: this was the Rams’ second win on the bounce after going seven without a victory, with Waghorn’s 57th-minute strike securing the three points after substitute Elliot Simoes had briefly brought Barnsley level.
‘I have played at a high level in the US,’ Rooney said. ‘I am still fit and as long as I am fit, I will be ok. This is a new chapter in my career. I want to help Derby get promotion.
‘I know what to expect from this league because I’ve watched it for a long time. I will have to adapt to certain things but I will be ready for them.
‘I feel I can help the young players with my experience. I spoke to them a lot on the pitch about small things. I just try to be that voice on the pitch and to guide them in small details.’
Rooney agreed his 18-month player-coach deal last August, but his commitments with former club DC United meant the agreement could not start formally until Thursday. The Rams have had a hugely difficult season on and off the field and are hoping Rooney will revive them.
Jack Marriott celebrates after giving Derby the lead on the brink of half time
Not only are they eight points adrift of the play-offs, the club are still recovering from the incident following a team-bonding session in September that ultimately led to the dismissal of captain Richard Keogh, and driving bans for team-mates Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence. Then Sportsmail revealed on Thursday that the latest round of players’ wages had been paid late.
Playing in a central midfield role in the home side’s 4-1-3-2 – boss Phillip Cocu had changed the system to accommodate him – Rooney’s lack of match sharpness was immediately apparent, though there was nothing wrong with the 34-year-old’s touch when he did receive the ball.
In the final minute of the first half, Rooney made his mark, swinging over a perfect free-kick from the left that Marriott bundled in from close range. Early in the second, Derby were denied when Samuel Sahin-Radlinger tipped Matthew Clarke’s header on to the post, and the visitors equalised moments later when Simoes slid the ball in from close range after Derby failed to clear a free-kick.
Barnsley goalkeeper Samuel Radlinger throws himself to his right to save Matt Clarke’s header
Then Rooney, after a rare foray into the box, could not guide a close-range header on target, the ball flicking his shoulder and drifting away from goal.
He was instrumental in Derby’s second, though, finding Andre Wisdom with a perfect pass, and the right-back’s low cross was turned in first time by Waghorn.
Cocu said: ‘Wayne put on a great performance and maybe surprised everyone by staying on for 90 minutes. It was always the plan to have him as captain – with his quality, leadership and experience, and he has been captain of the national team.
‘He can help us, especially when he has played for a bit longer. People see him as a goalscorer but his vision of the game is excellent.’
Barnsley substitute Elliot Simoes (centre) celebrates after scoring the leveller on 57 minutes
Rooney harries Barnsley defender Aapo Halme during the first half at Pride Park