According to Wayne Rooney, the PSP wasn’t just a console—it was a secret weapon that helped Manchester United bond and succeed, thanks to long sessions of SOCOM on the team bus and plane.

With the upcoming release of EA Sports FC 26, former soccer star Wayne Rooney appeared on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast to discuss the franchise and his personal gaming history. During the conversation, Rooney revealed that part of his success at Manchester United came from playing SOCOM with teammates on their PSPs.

Four SOCOM titles were released on Sony’s handheld: Fireteam Bravo, Fireteam Bravo 2, Tactical Strike, and Fireteam Bravo 3. All came out during Rooney’s United tenure (2004–2017), a period in which the club won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup, four Community Shields, and three League Cups.

“The PSP was key to our success,” says Rooney

When asked by Kelly Somers what he played besides FIFA, Rooney admitted: “Do you know what we used to play? Not FIFA! At Manchester United, I really believe that playing the PSP was a big part of our success. Honestly, it got us communicating more. We used to play on the plane and on the team bus. We’d play 5v5 on a game called SOCOM, an army game. You had to communicate, make tactical decisions, and revive teammates when they were killed. I believe it was a massive part of our success. You can ask any of the players who played at the same time. It was brilliant.”

This shows yet again how video games can foster teamwork and influence real-life interactions. It’s also a reminder of SOCOM’s legacy—a series many PlayStation fans, and perhaps Manchester United supporters, would love to see return.

Source: WCCFTech, BBC