Wayne Rooney details what Sir Alex Ferguson does for him ‘every time I get sacked’

Wayne Rooneey has had a tough time since becoming a manager, with the Manchester United legend being axed three times by DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson sends him a text every time he gets sacked from a mangerial job.

Rooney was a Premier League superstar with the Red Devils, netting 253 times from 559 appearances at Old Trafford after being signed by Sir Alex in 2004.

The former England star spent nine seasons under the legendary Scot and won five Premier League titles before ending his career with Everton, DC United and Derby.

But since hanging up his boots in 2021, Rooney has endured a tough time in management and has been let go three times by DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth.

Rooney has now spoken about how Sir Alex has sent him support each time he is sacked during an appearance on Sky Bet’s The Overlap.

Host Gary Neville asked him if he ever heard from his old managers, and he replied by saying he still keeps in touch with Sir Alex, saying: “Every time I get sacked Fergie gives me a text.”

The admission led to laughter from Rooney’s panellists as Jill Scott asked him: “What does it say?”

Rooney refused to indulge on their conversations as he simply replied: “He gives me a text every time I get sacked.”

Despite having early success with Derby County – though he couldn’t prevent their relegation to League One in 2022.

Unsuccessful spells followed at DC United in the MLS before a disastrous run at Birmingham City, where he was sacked after just 15 games in charge in January 2024.

He then took the job at Plymouth Argyle and lasted just seven months after a run of 13 defeats in 23 Championship games.

Rooney has since been enjoying a break from management with some punditry duty – with stints on Amazon Prime and Match of the Day. The ex-striker has not ruled out a return to the dugout one day but insisted it would have to be “the right club”.

“I would like to go back in [to management],” he said on the Stick to Football podcast, to the surprise of former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville. “But it would have to be the right club. Certainly the right club.

“I think you always have that ego, don’t you? You always have that confidence you could go in and get the best out of a bad or difficult situation. Obviously, that wasn’t the case [at Plymouth]. I am going to enjoy time with my family, though.”

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