Coleen: “Wayne’s a changed man – life feels good”

● The WAG reveals husband Wayne is much more hands-on as a dad now ● Says he’s “matured” after a series of scandals left their marriage under strain ● Pals say the battle to hang on to her relationship has paid off

n a rare and I candid interview published last week, Coleen Rooney opened up about the drastic turnaround her footballer husband Wayne – whose antics off the pitch have dominated headlines for over a decade – has made and how he’s changed since having their four sons.

NATURAL FATHER

Wayne’s antics off pitch have dominated headlines for over a decade, but talking about his transformation, Coleen, 32, said, “First time around he never jumped to change a nappy, but now it comes naturally to him. Obviously with four kids, he’s had a lot of experience. He’s really good at helping, especially with the bedtime routine. Usually Wayne wakes the other three up [in the morning] while I take the baby. He also does a lot of football runs during the week.”

And as the couple prepared to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this week, friends say the WAG – mum to Kai, eight, Klay, five, Kit, two and four-month-old Cass – has said that Wayne is a “changed man” and that their marriage has improved because of it.

A source says, “Coleen has known Wayne since their school days. They’ve grown up together experiencing all the highs and lows that took them from teens to celebrities, and from that to parents. They’ve had their share of troubles, but she loves seeing the person Wayne has matured into – he’s not the man she married and he’s changed into a better version of himself and life feels good now.

“She thinks being a dad was the making of him. She jokes about how she feels she’s got a brand-new husband – telling pals that it’s like she has the new and improved model of him. She laughs that sometimes she does a double take when she comes downstairs in the morning to see him whipping up breakfast for the family after already putting on a load of washing and tidying up from the night before.”

Coleen was left devastated last September after the Everton player was caught drink-driving while giving party girl Laura Simpson a lift home, which ended up with him being slammed with a driving ban and a 12-month community order.

FORGIVING WIFE

While the state of their marriage remained in question in the aftermath of the scandal, his childhood sweetheart

insisted she’d forgiven Wayne in a lengthy Facebook post a month later in which she described her husband as “silly and selfish”.

Insiders at the time told Closer how Wayne vowed to make changes to prove how much he wanted to make their marriage work – and he appears to have stuck to his word.

While Coleen normally holidays alone with her sons, Wayne joined his family on their sun-soaked break in Barbados last month and the Rooney family were pictured looking happier than ever as they enjoyed their first trip as a family of six.

FAMILY UNIT

The source says, “Coleen is really happy. She’s stood by Wayne through thick and thin, she would do anything to keep her family together and believes in marriage more than anything. She knows the fight has been worth it because the pay off is seeing how happy they are as a family unit – this is all she’s ever wanted. Their latest trip to Barbados was the best holiday they’ve ever had and she’s said how amazing it was for Wayne to be with them. He spent quality time with the boys doing watersports, while also making time for romance together as a couple, which Wayne made incredibly special by planning a host of intimate dinner dates and wooing her with gifts.”

The couple – who started dating at the age of 16 – have endured their fair share of ups and downs over the years, with Wayne admitting to having sex with prostitutes, including a 48-year-old grandmother. In 2010 reports emerged claiming Wayne had had a threesome with escorts Jenny Thompson and Helen Wood while Coleen was pregnant with Kai.

Closer recently reported how she was stressed over whether to uproot her sons and move to the US if her husband signs a deal with DC United in Washington, but pals say she’s been feeling calmer since Wayne assured her that he’s happy to bow out if she decides she doesn’t want to go.

The source adds, “Wayne’s assured Coleen that her and the kids come first and he’ll do whatever it is that makes her happy and won’t resent her if she asks him to stay in the UK, which has massively taken off the pressure.

“Coleen really appreciates Wayne being so supportive and loving, and it’s changed her whole perspective. She feels much brighter and more positive about their future together.”

❛SHE’S STOOD BY HIM THROUGH THICK AND THIN – AND KNOWS THE FIGHT HAS BEEN WORTH IT❜