Pictures: Proud Wayne Rooney shares touching reaction to son Kai’s United U18 debut

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has revealed his pride at his son, Kai, making his bow for the Under-18s as they beat Derby County to advance to the next stage of the FA Youth Cup. Kai makes debut Kai started on the bench on Friday as United secured a 2-1 victory over Derby to book their place in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final. Derby goalkeeper Cristiano Dzialuk was tested by United, remaining unbeaten until an own goal breached his defence. Chido Obi sealed the 2-1 win with a goal in the 103rd minute, rendering Derby’s late effort a mere consolation. In the 99th minute of proceedings, Kai was introduced as a substitute, marking his debut for the Under-18s. Rooney and wife Coleen were present to watch their son in action. They were joined by interim head coach Michael Carrick, who was also in attendance. It was a momentous occasion for the family of the United legend, whose wholesome reaction on social media showed just how much it meant to him. Rooney’s reaction United’s record goalscorer took to X (formerly Twitter) to share two photos – one of a young Kai running out at Old Trafford as a mascot, and another of the same player making his professional debut at the Theatre of Dreams. Rooney captioned the pictures with the message, “Then and now. Proud of you, Kai.” Then and now. Proud of you Kai ❤️ pic.twitter.com/S9WJ8C8Ky9 — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) January 24, 2026 Kai can be optimistic about future opportunities, particularly with Carrick taking note. As the former United midfielder has repeatedly stated, the academy is the lifeblood of the club, and he is committed to integrating promising youngsters into the first team. Carrick told United media before the match, “I was lucky enough to play in, and win the FA Youth Cup when I was young at West Ham. It’s such an important competition, especially for this club.” “Young players, Old Trafford under the floodlights, feeling what it means, a bit of expectation. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young boys to go and take the next step. We’re all fully behind them, it’ll be a tough game, but we’re looking forward to it.” Kai and United will face Oxford in the next stage of the competition. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!