A Cheeky Prank by Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney, known for his antics on and off the pitch, once pulled an unforgettable prank on a fellow England team-mate. Former Chelsea and West Ham striker Carlton Cole revealed that Rooney, along with Jermain Defoe, managed to slip him a Viagra pill disguised as a vitamin during a training session for the England squad.
In an interview with Des Kelly for Hayters TV, Cole recounted how he innocently took the pill, thinking it was a standard multivitamin, only to be left in a rather awkward situation during training. The prank left the player with what he humorously described as a “stonker,” which drew laughter from his team-mates and has now resurfaced as a legendary story in the football world.
The Story Behind the Viagra Prank
Carlton Cole shared the tale on the Footballer’s Guide to Football podcast, where Jermain Defoe was also present to add context to the mischievous event. According to Cole, he was just trying to stay disciplined by sitting at the front of the team bus when he realized he had forgotten his vitamins. Rooney and Defoe, seated at the back, offered Cole what they claimed were vitamins. “I’ve trotted off to the back and gone ‘perfect, oh it’s blue’ and bosh, it down me,” Cole humorously recalled during the podcast.
The former footballer, who recently turned 40, was completely unaware of the trick being played on him. The ‘blue pill’ turned out to be none other than Viagra, a drug typically used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Training with a Stiff Problem
Cole’s reaction during the training session was priceless. Despite not being sexually aroused, the effects of the pill were in full force, leaving Cole in an embarrassing situation. He laughed, telling the story to his podcast audience, “The stonker was there. I wasn’t sexually aroused but it was just there. I was the quickest person around that pitch – I had three legs.”
The Viagra prank was a source of amusement for the whole team, with Shaun Wright-Phillips, another member of the England squad at the time, also involved in the joke. According to Defoe, who participated in the prank alongside Rooney, they chose Cole because of his good-natured personality. “Carlton was always smiley, happy and that, so we just thought, if you are going to get anyone, who would take it? He just took it because he was thinking, ‘Oh yeah, vitamins, good for my body.'”
Defoe Recalls the Incident
The prank has left a lasting impression, and Jermain Defoe, now a football pundit, still laughs when recalling Cole’s shocked reaction after they revealed the truth. “I was in stitches. It was the funniest thing. When we told him after… his face!” Defoe chuckled, adding that Cole’s confusion and shock made the prank even more hilarious.
The story of Wayne Rooney’s Viagra prank is now part of football folklore. It showcases the lighthearted side of team camaraderie that often exists within football squads. Although pranks can sometimes go wrong, Cole appeared to take this one in stride, laughing along with his teammates despite the awkwardness of the situation.
Footballers’ Camaraderie and Dressing Room Culture
Pranks and practical jokes are part and parcel of football’s dressing room culture. Players often look for ways to lift spirits during the rigorous and high-pressure environment of professional football. This prank involving Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, and Carlton Cole highlights the lighter side of the England squad’s time together, where moments of humor break through the intensity of training.
Rooney, known for his leadership and fierce competitiveness on the pitch, also had a reputation for being a jokester in the dressing room. This incident adds to the numerous stories about him, providing a glimpse into the playful nature of footballers behind the scenes.
How Carlton Cole Took It All in Good Humor
Carlton Cole, despite being the target of the joke, has since laughed about the prank during several interviews and podcast appearances. Now retired from professional football, Cole regularly shares anecdotes from his playing days, with this Viagra incident being one of the most memorable. His ability to take the prank in good humor and recount it with a smile underscores his easygoing personality, which made him a target for this cheeky joke.
In fact, during the interview with Des Kelly, Cole seemed to enjoy retelling the event, even mimicking his own disbelief when he discovered what had happened. This story also serves as a reminder of how footballers form strong bonds with their teammates, with playful pranks becoming part of that camaraderie.
Viagra and Its Use in Sport
While the idea of athletes using Viagra may seem strange, the drug has been rumored to be used in sport for purposes other than its original medical use. Some studies have explored the potential of Viagra to improve circulation and oxygenation during exercise, leading to debates about whether it should be classified as a performance-enhancing drug. Although there is no evidence that Cole or any other England players were using Viagra for athletic enhancement, the topic has occasionally arisen in discussions about the boundaries of drug use in sports.
The incident between Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, and Carlton Cole remains a legendary story in football circles and is sure to be remembered by fans and players alike.
