Former England captain Wayne Rooney has been charged with drink driving, police said.
The 31-year-old, England’s all-time record goal-scorer, was stopped by police last night after returning from an evening out.
Police confirmed that he was stopped in a black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on Friday.
He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates' Court on September 18.
The footballer was pulled over by police after reportedly spending the evening at a bar four miles from his mansion. The striker’s former England team-mates face Malta away tonight in a World Cup qualifier.
Rooney returned to boyhood club Everton this summer after 13 years at Manchester United and enjoyed a perfect start, scoring in each of his opening Premier League games.
Just days ago, he announced his retirement from international football, ending a reign as England captain after holding talks with manager Gareth Southgate. He was dropped from Southgate’s squad for the fixtures against Scotland and France in June. However, his rejuvenated form at Everton saw him back in contention for the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia on Monday next week.
Rooney was pictured by a fan, Jack McIver, at The Bubble Room bar in Alderley Edge last night.
The player’s decision to retire from the international game prompted tributes from across the football world, with former England manager Roy Hodgson describing him as a “legend”. He stepped down as England’s greatest ever goal-scorer, having netted 53 times in 119 appearances. He remains the second-highest-capped player for the country behind former goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps.
Rooney, who was born in Liverpool, has lived in Cheshire for the past 12 years, in a £6 million home in Prestbury, not far from Finch Farm. He, his wife Coleen, and their three children, Kai, Klay and Kit, are planning to move to a purpose-built £10 million mansion in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. Coleen, also 31, recently announced that she is pregnant. In a statement after the announcement of his decision to retire, Rooney said: “Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me. But I believe now is the time to bow out.
“Leaving Manchester United was a tough call but I know I made the right decision in coming home to Everton. Now I want to focus all my energies on helping them be successful.”
A spokesman for Rooney declined to comment this morning.
This page is being updated.