Revealed: How Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney celebrated his 40th birthday

Wayne Rooney doesn't turn 40 until the end of this month, but birthday celebrations for the former Manchester United and England star have already begun. 

The footballer and his wife Coleen, also 39, spent last weekend enjoying a luxury trip to the Cotswolds with friends.

Coleen arranged for the couple to be whisked away via helicopter to a lakeside estate in the idyllic region, which is home to stars such as David and Victoria Beckham. 

And after their arrival, notoriously aggressive striker Rooney unwound by dressing up as Freddie Mercury and belting out Queen's greatest hits, according to The Sun.

A source told the publication: 'Everyone knows Wayne really loves singing but he was in his element as Freddie Mercury.  

'He looked the part and blasted out some of Queen's best known tunes.' 

Coleen and Wayne met when they were just 12 years old in their home-city of Liverpool before starting to date when they were both 16. 

They married a few years later in 2008 and have four children together - Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight and Cass, six. 

Only a couple of weeks ago, Wayne shockingly insisted that he would be 'dead' if it wasn't for Coleen, who he says 'saved him' from alcoholism. 

The ex-professional candidly laid bare his struggles with booze during a conversation with his former team-mate Rio Ferdinand in late September. 

'I didn't think I could turn to anyone,' Wayne said, 'I didn't really want to because I didn't want to put that burden on anyone.'

He recalled one incident where he 'drank for two days straight' before turning up for football training.

In a bid to conceal his problem from the rest of his team and manager, Wayne would use eye drops, chewing gum and aftershave to mask his two-day binge. 

However, he explained: 'Come training and at the weekend I'd scored two goals and then I'd go back and go and drink for two days straight again.'

In an emotional admission, Wayne praised his wife and mother of his four children Coleen, revealing: 'I honestly believe if she weren't there I'd be dead.'

He gushed: 'Coleen is massive. It's bad because we're two kids from Croxteth and then we grew up together and obviously we started dating and we got married and have kids.

'But when I was 17 she could see, she knew my mind and she knew I was a bit out there. You know, I loved my football, obsessed with football but also I loved a night out or whatever going out.

'She's seen it very early on and she's controlled that. Well, not controlled but helped me control that massively.

'And at times you're like, "What are you doing? Why do you keep saying don't do this or don't do that?"

'How she's managed me because I needed managing.'

He continued to praise his wife, adding: 'The best person and I've made mistakes in the past which are well documented and whatever but I'm a little bit different at times and she keeps me on that path and she's done it for 20-odd years.'

Having headed into management after his retirement four years ago, Rooney is now a prominent pundit for the BBC on Match of the Day.