The Real Rooneys Premieres on Disney+: The Story of Coleen Rooney, from Footballer's Wife to Business Icon

Disney+ has again expanded its sports and lifestyle content portfolio with the release of the documentary series The Real Rooneys on Thursday (24/09/26). The program highlights Coleen Rooney, a figure who has long been part of the British celebrity landscape—not merely as the wife of football legend Wayne Rooney, but as a business and cultural entity in her own right.

Coleen's journey began with her childhood in Liverpool, then dating Wayne Rooney when both were still teenagers, long before her husband became a star for Manchester United and the England national team. As Wayne's career soared, Coleen transformed from a footballer's partner into a familiar face on television, a fashion entrepreneur, and one of the most recognized public figures in the United Kingdom.

Disney+'s decision to take on the Rooney family story is not without reason. In recent years, streaming platforms have raced to chase sports-themed and celebrity-life content as a magnet for new subscribers. This documentary targets an audience that not only loves football but also personal behind-the-scenes stories—a market niche that keeps growing, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

For Indonesia's entertainment industry, Disney+'s move could signal that content themed around sports and athletes' personal lives has strong commercial appeal. Domestically, several local platforms have begun eyeing similar stories—for instance, documentaries about national athletes or the family lives of Indonesian footballers—though not yet as aggressively as the global market. The presence of The Real Rooneys could encourage Indonesian creators to explore the personal documentary format with high production standards.

Beyond that, Coleen's story also reflects how modern celebrities build personal brands outside their partners' orbit. She is known not only for her marriage but also for her fashion business, television appearances, and involvement in various public controversies—including a legal case that once went viral with another footballer's wife. This kind of transformation is relevant to the influencer and entrepreneur trends in Indonesia, where many public figures have begun developing their own business lines.

"Coleen Rooney is an example of how someone can turn media exposure into a sustainable business platform," said an entertainment industry observer who declined to be named.

With the release of this documentary, the question now is whether Indonesian viewers will embrace a foreign celebrity narrative like this, or instead demand more local stories. Disney+ itself has not announced a specific strategy for the Indonesian market regarding this content, but its presence in the global catalog makes access easier for customers in the country.

Going forward, the success of The Real Rooneys could serve as a benchmark for other platforms in developing similar stories from Southeast Asia. If the market response is positive, it is not impossible that we will see more documentaries about athletes and their families—from football to badminton—produced with a deeply personal approach.