Wayne Rooney has thanked his wife, Coleen, who shares four children with the former footballer, for everything she has done for him as they celebrate their anniversary14:34, 12 Jun 2026Wayne Rooney has marked his 18-year wedding anniversary with a sweet dedication to wife, Coleen. The pair, both 40, tied the knot in 2006 after meeting at school in Liverpool at the age of 12..‌After shooting to fame as a footballer with Manchester United, Wayne has kept childhood sweetheart Coleen by his side - through the good times and the bad.‌Paying tribute to his wife, who shares four sons with Wayne, the Everton star shared a snap of the couple on a lavish holiday in Dubai. Posting on Instagram, he wrote: "Happy anniversary @coleen_rooney. Where’s them 18 years gone? Thanks for everything. Love you."‌Responding to the post, the couple's famous pals sent their well wishes. Coronation Street star, Alan Halsall replied: "Happy anniversary you two" while Loose Women's Jane Moore added: "Happy anniversary x".Earlier this year, the couple celebrated another milestone when Coleen turned 40. In another public social media post for his wife, Wayne wrote: " Happy 40th Birthday to the best wife and mum we could wish for. We can’t wait to celebrate with you and love you all the world."‌The couple have been together for more than 24 years, dating at age 16 in 2002 after meeting at age 12. The duo married in 2008 and have remained together, navigating their relationship through various public scandals.In recent years, Coleen has been open about the highs and lows of being a high profile WAG and dealing with her husband's scrapes over the years. She was most candid in her 2024 Disney+ documentary, as she admitted she once told Wayne, "I can't carry on with this."‌Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, saw the mum-of-four open up about her fraught case against rival Rebekah Vardy and how she had weathered various storms in the public eye - including those in her own marriage.Wayne has spoken out about his battle with alcohol in the past and how it led him to make wrong choices - particularly with women. Earlier this year, he was pictured drinking with two mystery women at a pre-BRITs party.Sources close to the couple, who married in 2008, have since branded the former footballer "an idiot" but other friends stressed that their relationship is strong.Article continues belowIn September last year, the Manchester United legend said he could have died if Coleen hadn’t been there to help him. Speaking on close friend and former teammate Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, he said: "I honestly believe if she weren’t there, I’d be dead."Coleen is the best. I’ve made mistakes in the past which are well-documented but... she keeps me on [the right] path and she’s done it for 20-odd years."Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.