Wayne Rooney drops huge hint on managerial return after two brutal sackings

Plymouth Argyle and Birmingham City both cut ties with Wayne Rooney after just a few months, with both going on to suffer relegation from the Championship after his dismissal

Former England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney is in no hurry to return to management after a pair of ill-fated spells in the Championship. Rooney was sacked by Plymouth in December 2024, and has not gone back into the dugout since.

Before his half-season at Plymouth, Rooney has a short-lived stint as Birmingham City manager. He left both clubs with relegation a possibility, and neither was able to escape the drop after dismissing the 39-year-old.

Rooney has since moved into TV punditry, and appears to be at home in that environment. “Obviously just doing some TV work at the minute, so that’s what I’m doing,” he told talkSPORT. “I’m enjoying it. So, that’s where I’ll be.”

The former striker’s first two managerial jobs saw him take charge at Derby County and D.C. United, two clubs he represented at the end of his playing career. After leaving MLS in October 2023, he replaced John Eustace as Birmingham boss but was gone within three months.

Plymouth, who survived at Birmingham’s expense in the 2023-24 season, took a chance on Rooney ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. However, he was dismissed after picking up just four wins from 24 league games.

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After surviving by a point in 2024, Plymouth saw their relegation confirmed on the final day 12 months later. During the run-in, Rooney’s successor Miron Muslic suggested an earlier change in the dugout could have saved them.

“I think if I’m the head coach from day one we will be far, far away from the relegation zone,” the Austrian said. “We would be safe five games ago already. I truly believe if I will be here with my staff from day one we will be nowhere near where we are right now.”

Rooney was speaking after representing England in the most recent edition of the Soccer Aid charity match. He scored the opening goal of the game, with England leading 3-0 at half-time but eventually losing 5-4.

It was Rooney’s former United team-mate Carlos Tevez who stole the show, scoring four times after coming on for ex-Brazil star Rivaldo at the break. Tevez, who turned 41 in February, only finished playing professionally in 2021 – a few months after Rooney himself.

Tyson Fury was co-manager of the England XI, and the boxer was full of praise for Tevez as he reflected on the result. “We did not get the result we wanted, but everybody played well and played hard and we raised a lot of money for a great cause,” he said.

“So, I am very proud of everybody who took part. And well done to every body… especially Carlos Tevez! Wow. Banging in hat-tricks and stuff. He has still got it. Had a fantastic day. Big shout out to all the organisers at UNICEF and Soccer Aid, but here we are today, back in the bay, back in good old Lancashire… keeping it real!”

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