Wayne Rooney spending 40th birthday in new role after 'facing his demons'

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Most people would expect Wayne Rooney to celebrate a landmark birthday with a night on the tiles. Because no-one's reputation has preceded a sportsman quite like Rooney's has.

Just last month the England and Manchester United legend opened up on his alcohol addiction, admitting he could have died if it hadn't been for the help and support of his wife Coleen. But people change. People grow up. People learn from their mistakes. Even those who have lived out most of their lives in the public spotlight.

So those same people who still wait for the next mistake or bad decision from Rooney to hit the headlines, will be surprised to know one of England's greatest ever footballers is welcoming in his 40th birthday working in Dubai. Rooney has taken his family to the UAE, where he is holding some coaching clinics with star struck kids.

Is it really 24 years ago Rooney introduced himself to English football with a stunning goal for Everton against Arsenal at Goodison Park? He was 16 - and life felt sweet.

Not least when he went on to join United - and elevated himself to becoming the greatest player of his generation. A teenage tearaway from Croxteth who became a global superstar.

His moments of magic were relentless and stunning. He scared defenders to death. He took teams apart on his own - and became a talisman for both club and country.

Rooney became England and United's greatest ever goalscorer. And he remains England's most capped outfield player. But with all the brilliance came some bad choices.

He could go from sweet to sour in the blink of an eye, making headlines on the front pages as well as the back. For a decade, he was one of the most famous and infamous footballers on the planet.

Since retirement he has tried his hand at management, and is now forging a successful career as a pundit. He has his own BBC podcast, and is an integral part of the 'Match of the Day' team. His views are engaging and intelligent, spawned from a playing career which saw his footballing brain work faster than most of those he came up against.

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His long-time agent, Paul Stretford, has been on the rollercoaster ride from the beginning. Stratford still believes Rooney remains underrated, but is proud of the man he has now become.

He said: "Look back to that day he signed his first major professional contract with Everton and his introduction to the world and the media. Then see the person that stands there now, who is aware of his place in the world and he’s self-assured of what that place is.

"I don't think too many people gave much chance of that being the case all of those years ago. He’s faced demons, he’s faced challenges, but each and every step along the way, whenever they’ve come along, he’s faced them full on and dealt with them and come out the other side.

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"I think he's been under-appreciated throughout his career and it’s the misfortune of being on both ends of the paper, both the front and back pages. That undoubtedly shaped opinion in the formative stages and even to this day.

"Coleen has been such a rock for Wayne and the family generally, and now they can spend more time together and enjoy that aspect of their life.

"I would say at 40 he’s ended up very much in a good place, whereas a lot of us at 40 are thinking, ‘Oh, well, that’s my young days gone, it’s all downhill from here’.

"Do you know what he’ll be doing on his birthday? He’ll be coaching kids in Dubai.

"The beauty of it is he can take Coleen and the kids for half-term, but what he’s doing is he’s got his boots on, he’s on the grass, where he loves best, coaching kids.”