Women swoon over Roon
Last updated at 12:50 14 July 2004
Move over David Beckham - wonderkid Wayne Rooney is the man most women secretly fancy, according to a poll published today.
He may not have the heart-throb looks of Brad Pitt or Jude Law, but Rooney is the nation's number one closet fantasy date.
Women love his boy-next-door image and find the 18-year-old Everton and England striker "cute, loveable and huggable".
Now magazine questioned 1,000 women about their secret celebrity crushes.
Pint-sized pop star Prince came second in the survey.
One admirer said she loved him despite the fact he is "short, hairy and wears high-heeled shoes".
Fiery, foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay was third, followed by singer Daniel Bedingfield and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell.
Unlikely idols
Other unlikely heart-throbs in the top 20 included Justin Hawkins from The Darkness, Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, cross-dressing comic Eddie Izzard and funnyman Ricky Gervais.
The Prince of Wales made number 11 in the poll, with one woman explaining: "I love seeing his sexy knobbly knees in a kilt at Balmoral".
Even Jason Cowen, Big Brother's self-obsessed ginger bodybuilder, has some secret admirers, appearing on the list at number 12.
One place behind him was US President George W Bush. "He's a really cute man for his age," one fan enthused.
But none of the older men could hold a candle to Rooney, the youngest name to appear on the list.
The footballer's spokesman said: "Of course
Wayne's flattered by the attention he's received, but all he really wants to do is to concentrate on his football."
Oldest entrant was 59-year-old rock legend Rod Stewart, who said: "I'm grateful, but not surprised."
THE TOP 20
1 Wayne Rooney
2 Prince
3 Gordon Ramsay
4 Daniel Bedingfield
5 Simon Cowell
6 Rod Stewart
7 Michael Greco
8 Philip Schofield
9 Bill Clinton
10 Justin Hawkins
11 Prince of Wales
12 Jason Cowen
13 George Bush
14 Gary Lineker
15 Eddie Izzard
16 Alan Rickman
17 Steve Coogan
18 Ricky Gervais
19 Avid Merrion
20 David Hasselhoff
