Wayne Rooney, one of Manchester United’s legendary players, has revealed a surprising secret behind the team’s golden era. One of the factors in the way the club communicated and won titles, here argued by a former forward, was not even tactics or training — it was PlayStation games. Rooney says playing other games with his teammates built relationships and teamwork off the field, which helped to fuel United’s domination at the time.
SOCOM: Building Communication Off the Pitch
On The Wayne Rooney Show podcast aired on BBC, Rooney highlighted how SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3 became their unofficial team-building tool. “We would constantly play this game on the plane and the team bus. We formed five-on-five teams, talked continuously, gave tactics, and revived our fallen teammates. This way, we established amazing communication off the field. Our communication improved thanks to SOCOM,” Rooney said.
He added that the players’ styles in the game mirrored their on-field behavior. “Michael Carrick was calm in the game and made sneaky moves. I was the one at the front, directly engaging in conflict. “We acted the same in the game as we did on the field,” he explained. These sessions encouraged strategic thinking, trust, and coordination—skills that translated directly to matchday performance.
PlayStation’s Role in Championship Glory
Rooney concluded that PlayStation games played a crucial role in United’s achievements. “PlayStation games played a big role in our championships. It was a time that positively affected us in every way,” he stated. While Rooney was at Manchester United (2004–2017), the club won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups, four Community Shields as well as the Europa League and the Champions League.
Author’s Opinion
Rooney’s admission proves that championship-winning teams rely on more than talent — they need to communicate and get along. It’s pretty amazing to consider that a simple pastime like PlayStation influenced the shape of Manchester United’s legendary era and made champions on and off the field.
