As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Boxing legend ​Mike Tyson gave advice to young Man Utd star Rooney

Wayne Rooney got advice from an unlikely source when he was a young player at Manchester United.

The England star joined the Red Devils when he was still a teenager.

And he got advice about the perils of getting such fame and fortune at a young age from American boxer Mike Tyson.

That is according to Tyson's old sparring partner Joe Egan.

Egan told SunSport: "Wayne Rooney, in particular, was one of the stars Mike wanted to meet because he had so much admiration for Wayne.

"So when Mike was over for an after-dinner speech in the UK about more than 15 years ago, in Manchester, I was with him.

"The table that had been reserved for the team was given to the Carrington training ground staff because the team was stuck in traffic after an away match. But on another table there was Wayne's wife, Coleen, and her family.

"Mike had prepared a presentation for Wayne, but he presented it to Coleen's brother - Wayne's brother-in-law - instead.

"Mike had a lot of respect and admiration for Wayne because he knew the pressure on his young shoulders at the time.

"Although Wayne and the United team didn't make it to the event, I introduced him to Mike in a restaurant in Manchester called Lounge Ten later that night.

"This place has a high profile clientele and a pedigree of attracting the region's celebrities including A-list sports stars. A friend of Wayne's and Mike's owned this restaurant who hosted a private intimate dinner for Mike - for only 100 people."

Video of the day:

About the author

Ansser Sadiq

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free