How Premier League icons did in their GCSEs: Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Harry Kane and more

How Premier League icons did in their GCSEs: Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Harry Kane and more Premier League heroes from Wayne Rooney to Harry Kane have all fared very differently when it comes to their GCSE results Teenagers across the country will be keeping their fingers crossed as they collect their GCSE results today. The anticipation is palpable as students prepare to tear open those fateful envelopes, hoping their hard work and late-night revision sessions have paid off. For many, strong GCSE results lay down a clear path of promise, opening doors to further education and dream careers. It's also a universal experience as even the richest and most illustrious Premier League footballers of all time once grappled with the fear and anxiety of receiving their results. As young people across the country learn their grades today, Mirror Football takes a look back at how those in the top flight, both past and present, fared in their own exams. Wayne Rooney The Manchester United idol would be the first to admit that he left school without any qualifications, owing to the fact that he burst onto the scene for Everton just as he was supposed to be sitting his exams. He made his professional debut for the Toffees at just 16, ending Arsenal's 30-game unbeaten run with his first Premier League goal. However, he has hit out at people who deemed him to be unintelligent. He told BBC Sport: "It's no secret that I didn't even take GCSEs but I think people assume because of that that I'm not educated, which is really wrong. "I made a conscious effort when I was at Everton and Manchester United to educate myself in a lot of different things, such as black history and religion. The reason I did that was because I wanted to hold conversations with my team-mates who are from different backgrounds." Steven Gerrard Rooney's fellow Liverpudlian, Gerrard, also spent the majority of his energy on the pitch. The ex-England star earned one C, six Ds and two Es in his GCSE exams. However, when it came to leadership, he showed excellent traits from a very young age. That’s according to his former teacher at Huyton and Roby Primary School, Gillian Morgan, who also coached their school football team. She said: "The thing I remember most about him was his ability as a leader on the field. I think he started playing for the school team when he was nine years old and even then Steven was always trying to help others." Frank Lampard The Coventry City manager went to the oldest school in Essex, the independent Brentwood School, where he shared classes with the likes of boxing chief Eddie Hearn. The ex-Chelsea midfielder picked up 12 GCSEs at A* or A, including an A* in Latin. In a past interview, Lampard said: "I got an A* in Latin, more through application than talent for Latin, I would say. I don't know how I did it. In terms of application, I was quite a good boy at school." Bukayo Saka Arsenal and England winger successfully balanced his football with his school commitments and his dedication shows. Speaking about his time at school with the Arsenal website: "My mum and dad always encouraged me. They never stopped me from playing football, they just wanted to see a balance and I was also interested in my education. "I actually got quite good grades, so they were pleased on that side. I got four A*s and three As in my GCSEs, so I did quite well at school. My favourite lesson was obviously PE, but I also liked business studies a lot, I got an A* in that." Harry Kane Three Lions and Bayern Munich hero Kane performed well in his GCSEs, which he sat at Chingford Foundation School, where David Beckham also attended. Former head of PE at the school, Mark Leadon, revealed Kane passed all of his GCSEs and was a "model student." He told the East London Guardian: "He was conscientious, behaved himself and was a good all-round sportsman. He never saw himself as a superstar, he just got on with it." Trent Alexander-Arnold In an interview with The Guardian in 2023, the Real Madrid full-back opened up about how he took GCSE science and maths exams early, so he could be available for training for Liverpool as he edged closer to his professional debut. On taking a maths exam in Bulgaria during an under-17s tournament, he told the outlet: "Obviously, I don’t think I’ve done less revision for anything in my life. "Surely that can’t be normal. Sacrifices like that shouldn’t be happening. A pass was considered good enough. I was brought up to aim for Bs, minimum, for the other lads it was just getting passes so they could drop their subjects and free up time. Then in Year 11, the big year of secondary school, it all got chopped.” Harry Maguire Manchester United centre-back Maguire left school with outstanding GCSE grades. He picked up a number of A*s and As, impressing teachers with his mathematical ability and his prowess in athletics, of course. The former Leicester player's deputy head teacher, Sue Cain, once said he could have become a skilled accountant had football not been his main passion. She said: "Harry was such a modest lad. He had his head screwed on even at that age. He did everything you asked him to do and he never questioned why. He was popular, and he was huge." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts. 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