Wayne Rooney tipped for Man Utd job he would be ‘absolutely brilliant at’ after Plymouth exit
WAYNE Rooney has been told he would be “absolutely brilliant” in a coaching role at Manchester United.
It comes just seven days after he left Championship side Plymouth Argyle by mutual agreement after seven months in charge.
Rooney, 39, won just four of his 23 league games in charge of the Pilgrims and left with Plymouth sitting rock bottom of the Championship.
Six defeats and three draws since November put the final nail in Rooney’s coffin as his latest management tenure fell apart quickly.
But former Old Trafford team-mate Wes Brown has urged Rooney to return to Carrington.
Ex-defender Brown believes Wazza would be “absolutely brilliant” helping those back in their old stomping ground.
Brown, 45, told The Sports Daily: “If Wayne wanted to spend time as a striking coach he would be absolutely brilliant at it.
“He was one of the best goalscorers we’ve ever seen and was a top playmaker as well.
“If he wanted to do that he would be very good on movement and things like that, he was one of the best to do it.
“Could he help Rasmus Hojlund at Manchester United? I think all young strikers would love to listen to Wayne and his knowledge.
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“When I was a young player I remember getting a few tips from Laurent Blanc and the little things like that can really help.
“If Wayne was on hand to give out some advice [at United] I’m sure everyone would be willing to listen.”
Goals are hard to come for United, who languish down in 13th in the Prem as they endured their worst-ever start to a campaign.
But the Red Devils showed promising signs on Sunday as they held Prem leaders and arch-rivals Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
And new boss Ruben Amorim has already assembled his own coaching staff to help him solve the chaos in M16.
Former United captain Rooney spent a similarly disastrous 84 day spell in charge of Birmingham City before his stint at Plymouth.
At the start of his coaching career, Rooney managed Derby County as well as MLS side DC United.
He entered the world of management after a sensational playing career that saw him lift five Premier League titles.
Rooney also added the 2008 Champions League to his 16 major trophies.
He is widely regarded one of the Prem’s greatest ever players.
Wazza is still United’s all-time record goalscorer and also held the record for England before Harry Kane surpassed his tally in 2023.
He is unlikely to secure an immediate return to management and has already been offered the chance to return to TV screens in a punditry role.
Wayne Rooney's record-breaking career
WAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.
He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.
As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.
After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.
He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.
However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.
Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.
Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.
However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.
He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.