Former England striker Wayne Rooney has undergone plastic surgery to repair his nose after breaking it twice during his professional playing career.
Speaking on the first episode of the United-centric podcast Stick to United alongside co-host Mark Goldbridge, Rooney revealed he was one week post-operation to repair long-term structural damage.
The former Manchester United captain appeared on the show with plastic tubes inserted into his nostrils, which visibly affected his tone of voice during the recording.
"It's actually really lucky I've got no black eyes, but I've still got two plastic tubes up my nose, which are coming out very soon," Rooney explained. "I can't wait for them to come out."
Rooney pointed to the surgical stitches beneath his nose. "So, they've cut here (under my nostrils)... So, that's all stitched - a little bit uncomfortable," he said.
Injuries at Manchester United and DC United
Rooney shared that he first broke his nose while playing for Manchester United against Preston North End during an FA Cup tie in 2015. United won the match 3-1 at Deepdale, a tie Rooney remembered for "a bit of a dive" he made to win a penalty.
During the same match, his Manchester United teammate Marouane Fellaini also suffered a broken nose. Rooney noted the difference in their recovery times following the fixture. "But he missed the next couple of games," Rooney remembered. "I didn't miss any games."
The former England forward suffered his second nasal fracture three years later while playing for American Major League Soccer side DC United. The injury occurred in July 2018 during a 2-1 victory against Western Conference rivals Colorado Rapids.
The match marked Rooney's first goal for DC United, coming three games after his transfer from Premier League side Everton. During the game, Colorado Rapids player Niki Jackson was pushed by one of his own teammates into a collision with Rooney. The back of Jackson's head struck Rooney in the nose.
The collision left Rooney bloodstained on the pitch and resulted in a black eye during his recovery. Rooney described the second break as "a bad one."
Delayed surgery and medical recovery
Despite needing corrective surgery after the injuries, Rooney put off having the procedure for several years.
"So I needed surgery, but I've never had it. Put it off. And then this summer I thought get the World Cup out the way and I'll get it done. So had it done last week. Went well, but these tubes were horrible," Rooney said.
Sustaining multiple nasal fractures can damage the nasal septum and internal cartilage, leading to breathing difficulties. During corrective plastic surgery, doctors place medical plastic tubes inside the nostrils to hold the nasal passages open while the surrounding cartilage and tissue heal.
Career background
Rooney played for Manchester United between 2004 and 2017, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer with 253 goals. He won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League during his time at Old Trafford. He also scored 53 goals in 120 appearances for England, making him one of the national team's highest scorers before moving to Major League Soccer in 2018.
