In a surprising turn of events at the FA Cup third round, John Rooney emerged as the unexpected hero when his team, Macclesfield, triumphed over the defending champions, Crystal Palace. Rooney, who is thoroughly enjoying his newfound television fame, expressed his delight at being in the spotlight.

Since taking the reins as manager last July, the 35-year-old, who is also the brother of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, has achieved a remarkable feat. By leading the Silkmen to victory, he has secured a historic win, marking the most significant upset in the history of the FA Cup.

With financial resources scarce in the National League North, where Macclesfield competes after being reestablished as a phoenix club following the dissolution of Macclesfield Town, Rooney is thrilled that the team’s success is bringing in much-needed broadcast revenue.

The team garnered £80,000 from the BBC for their televised match against Crystal Palace. In a commendable gesture, Palace allowed Macclesfield to retain 100% of the proceeds from the sellout event.

Rooney, speaking on The Overlap alongside Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Jill Scott, emphasized the significance of the financial boost. “For teams at our level, it’s a huge financial gain for our club,” he stated.

John Rooney says he’s loving his team being on the TV because of the money they’re raking in

Rooney’s Macclesfield claimed the greatest FA Cup upset by beating holders Crystal Palace

“We don’t often get the chance to play on TV at this level, but our last two matches have been televised. I’m confident we’ll be featured in the next round as well, which is a tremendous opportunity for the club,” Rooney added enthusiastically.

Should they claim yet another upset and beat their fourth-round opponents Brentford, the Cheshire-based outfit will earn yet another £127,000 in prize money – and that’s before TV money is considered.

But the Silkmen boss says their past two FA Cup games – including their tie against Slough which was broadcast on TNT Sports – have already ‘probably covered the budget for the season’.

Rooney has stolen the limelight in recent days after spending the last 25 years in the shadow of his legendary brother – with many keen to point out his beaming new smile which he couldn’t hide after beating Palace.

He stood next to Wayne, who was on punditry duty and struggling to hold back his tears at the end of the match. It almost felt like a Hollywood script – and John had the movie star smile to match. But that wasn’t always the case.

‘The most noticeable change appears to be dental work, which alone can dramatically alter someone’s overall appearance,’ Dr Ducu Botoaca, an aesthetics doctor and owner of Dr Ducu Clinics, told the Daily Mail.

‘Straighter, brighter teeth often give the impression of a fresher face and can make features look more balanced and youthful without any facial procedures at all.’

It is unclear when Rooney got his teeth done, however, images from his younger years show that he used to have a significant gap on the upper left hand side of his mouth, and was possibly missing a pre molar.

He’s not the only member of the family to get work done, though. Wayne had his first hair transplant in 2011 and another in 2013. John does not appear to have had anything done up top, having always boasted a strong hairline. 

John received heaps of praise for his post-match interview with the BBC but he has only now emerged into the public consciousness, with media appearances not forthcoming down the years.

Rooney beamed his new smile as he celebrated with his brother Wayne after the Palace match

Images from his younger years a significant gap on the upper left hand side of his mouth

While he, Wayne, and their middle brother Graham have all experienced scrutiny – famously taking Ibiza by storm during Wayne’s stag do in 2008 (complete with a yacht and a trip to Wayne Lineker’s bar) and attending festivals together – the younger Rooneys have largely remained under the radar.

Football has always been in the Rooney blood. John grew up playing with the former Manchester United and England captain Wayney and Graham in and around the family home in Croxteth, Merseyside.

John attended Our Lady and St Swithin’s Primary School and De La Salle Humanities College in Croxteth. Like his two brothers, he also came through Everton’s academy before veering off to begin his career at Macclesfield as a teenager. A journeyman, John played for 11 clubs during his professional career, including a stint in the USA with New York Red Bulls and Orlando City.

He moved back to England in 2012 with Barnsley and later joined Bury – at a time when brother Wayne was the captain of United.

On being Wayne’s younger brother while trying to forge his own career in the sport, John once told The Express: ‘People are obviously going to bring Wayne up but I’ve got my own career. I’ve got to put myself first.’

The trio have largely stayed out of the spotlight as a family since their partying days in Liverpool in the early 2000s and 2010s.

For all of Wayne’s personal battles being played out in public – and to some extent Graham’s – John’s journey was unfolding far more quietly. Back in England, John bounced around the National League with Wrexham, Guiseley, Barrow, Stockport City and Oldham Athletic.

But now that he’s got the taste for it, Rooney is eyeing up yet another giant killing when they host Premier League high-flyers Brentford in the fourth-round.

‘We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal, but another Premier League side is incredible,’ he told ITV.