Wayne Rooney: Agent made me a very rich young man
England footballer Wayne Rooney today paid tribute in court to the agent who helped make him a multi-millionaire.
The Manchester United striker, 24, who is being sued for £4.3 million in a contract dispute, spoke of his trust and gratitude for Paul Stretford.
Rooney, in the witness box at Manchester Mercantile Court, agreed that the agent had helped to make him a "very wealthy young man".
Stretford, a founder and director of the sports management firm Proactive, signed Rooney at the age of 17 in 2002 when he was playing for Everton.
He also acted for the England player's wife Coleen, whose celebrity career took off following his £20 million transfer to Manchester United in 2004.
Court papers showed that on top of Rooney's £90,000-a-week salary, he got £760,000-a-month for image rights, £152,000 of which went to his agent.
He also earned £1 million-a-year from Nike, more than £200,000-a-year from computer games firm EA and £600,000 from a four-year deal with Coca-Cola.
Coleen was paid £41,667 a month for her OK! column and £13,000 for each episode of ITV2 show Real Women.
Rooney said he paid Stretford "for everyday life", adding: "There's a lot of stuff to be done and it would be impossible for me and my wife to do that."
The court had heard Proactive were due 20 per cent commission on the couple's deals but, after Stretford left the firm in acrimony in 2008, no payments were made. The firm is trying to claim the money, but the Rooneys refuse to pay. The case continues.
