Wayne Rooney is reportedly weighing up a sensational career change by stepping into the boxing ring after his disastrous spell as Birmingham City manager. The Manchester United and England legend incredibly might soon feature for internet superstar KSI’s promotion, Misfits Boxing.
Rooney was sacked by Birmingham last month after winning just two and losing nine of his 15 matches in charge at St. Andrew’s.
Following his stints in the dugout at Derby County, DC United and Birmingham, Rooney is now enjoying his downtime in anticipation of new job offers arriving at his door.
However, the Mirror report that the 38-year-old has held shock talks about swapping his football boots for boxing gloves and competing at one of Misfits’ upcoming events.
The series, promoted by Kalle Sauerland, has featured blockbuster names, including KSI, Logan Paul, Dillon Danis and Tommy Fury.
The report adds that Rooney is yet to reach an agreement with Misfits, and discussions between the two parties are still at a premature stage.
He would demand a significant pay package to step into the ring, given the mass interest he would draw to the promotion and the sport of boxing, as well as the fact he is still active in the high-earning football world.
But Rooney is known to be a huge boxing fan, and in December 2022, KSI revealed that the United and former England record goalscorer had been in touch about a match between the two.
He was a member of an amateur boxing club in Liverpool as a child and has also previously jokingly asked Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn to set up a fight.
Rooney walked out with Manchester City supporter Ricky Hatton for his fight against Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas in 2007 and has been regularly spotted at ringside for other bouts.
In 2015, a video surfaced on social media showing Rooney sparring with – and seemingly getting knocked out by – close pal and former United youth star Phil Bardsley in his kitchen.
He then paid homage to the viral clip by producing a boxing-inspired celebration during United’s 3-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in March of that year.
Rooney’s involvement with boxing could quickly turn from a joke into a very realistic prospect, though, with Misfits reportedly viewed as a serious option for the retired footballing hero.
Any fight under the Misfits banner wouldn’t class as professional boxing, due to the promotion not falling under the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control.
