Wayne Rooney Reveals Polish-Jewish Heritage in New Documentary

Wayne Rooney has revealed a previously unknown Polish-Jewish heritage in his new Disney+ documentary, "The Real Rooneys." The former England captain, 40, discovered that his maternal grandmother's family had Polish Jewish roots.

"I've recently found out that my mum's mum, so my nan's, family were Polish Jews," Rooney states in the film. He also shared his childhood curiosity, adding, "I'm Catholic, but then I've always asked questions like why aren't we Jewish?"

The documentary features the Rooney family, including sons Kit, 10, and Cass, 8, taking a trip to Auschwitz. Rooney previously visited the former Nazi concentration camp in 2012 with his England teammates during the European Championship. Describing the experience as a parent, he said, "It's tough to see what happened there. You've seen the amount of children who died. You see the children's clothes and shoes, it's really sad. You have to see it first hand."

Rooney also noted his younger son Cass's interest in World War II, which prompted their visit to Krakow. His wife, Coleen Rooney, 40, remarked on his curiosity, stating that Wayne has "a real bug for learning about different places in the world, culture, people, values."

The 10-episode series, filmed last year, offers an intimate look at the Rooney family's life. It covers a significant period following Rooney's dismissal as Plymouth Argyle manager, shifting his focus from the touchline to family life and school runs. The family also includes sons Kai, 16, and Klay, 13, both part of Manchester United's academy.

At the documentary's premiere in London, Rooney appeared with a new nose job, a slimmer physique, and smoother skin. He previously shared details of his rhinoplasty on his podcast, "Stick to United," explaining he had put off the surgery after breaking his nose twice during his playing career, first in an FA Cup game in 2015 and again while playing for D.C. United.