Wayne Rooney explains how PSP was the real key to Man United’s success

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Wayne Rooney, the famous football player, has shared that a popular portable gaming device surprisingly helped Manchester United succeed while he played for them.

In a recent interview on a BBC podcast promoting EA Sports FC 26, Wayne Rooney discussed his history with video games. He mentioned he used to play FIFA and Call of Duty frequently, but hasn’t played much recently. He did enjoy playing Pro Clubs with some popular YouTubers, calling it a fun experience.

Manchester United great, who played at Old Trafford for 13 years (2004-2017), playfully exaggerated his abilities, claiming he could be among the top 100 players globally. He quickly followed up, though, admitting he was just ‘okay’.

It wasn’t just video game simulations of football or shooting games that helped Rooney and his teammates stay in top form. Rooney explained that playing games on Sony’s PSP handheld consoles actually contributed to their success.

PSP played a major part in Man United’s success

Wayne Rooney revealed that a surprising key to Manchester United’s success was playing on the PSP handheld console. He explained they didn’t play FIFA, but the PSP brought the team together.

He explained that the team would bond during travel – on planes and buses – by playing the 2005 tactical shooting game, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs.

Honestly, playing that game really brought us closer as a team. We’d play it everywhere – on flights, on the team bus… it was brilliant! We’d usually have 5-on-5 matches, and I’d team up with guys like Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, and Wes Brown. It was a great way to bond.

He explained that a game called SOCOM on the PSP was a key factor in their success. It was an army-based game where teamwork and strategy were essential – players had to communicate and revive fallen teammates. He thought it was brilliant, and surprisingly, how someone played the game often mirrored their approach to football – it was a really noticeable connection.

Now all they need to do is win five games in a row so one fan can finally cut his hair.

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2025-09-22 17:49