WAYNE ROONEY left Gary Neville absolutely gobsmacked by revealing his intention to return to management.
Wazza was given his marching orders by Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle last December after just seven months in charge.
The sacking was Rooney’s SECOND of 2024, a year which started off with Birmingham City handing him his P45.
But the Manchester United legend isn’t giving up hope of becoming a successful manager, saying during the latest episode of the Stick to Football Podcast from Sky Bet: “I would like to go back in.”
Rooney’s admission stunned former team-mate Neville, who proceeded to ask him: “Are you alright?”
“No I would do,” Rooney continued. “But it’d have to be the right club. Certainly the right club.”
Wazza, however, is in no rush to return to the dugout.
England‘s former all-time leading goalscorer said: “I’m not in a massive rush to go back in.
“There are different things that I’m looking at to try and get involved with as well.
“Unless something was absolutely the right thing to do, [then I’m not rushing back in].”
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D104912%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]Rooney, 39, is well aware that his recent track record will likely put clubs off giving him a job.
So much so he’s willing to DROP DOWN to Under-21 level to further cut his teeth and prove himself worthy.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Inside Wayne Rooney’s woeful spell at Plymouth as Manchester United legend AXED” credits=”” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366553598112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]He said: “I’d have no problem dropping to an Under-21 team or going in there as a coach.
“I’m still young enough to learn and devlop.
“I’m not naive enough to think [I’ll go straight into another job]. I know how the game works.”
Despite the current bleak nature of his managerial prospects, Rooney has no regrets about his forays into the dugout.
He said: “I’ve had some great experiences. Good ones, bad ones. So I think you’ve always got that to fall back on.
“Whatever happens in the future, you’ve always got that to fall back on.
“But I’m definitely looking, as well, to try and expand and do different things and enjoy my kids more, enjoy my family more and enjoying doing stuff with them.
“Certainly while I’ve got this time off.”
Rooney joined Birmingham City in October 2023 following a brief stint with DC United in the MLS.
But he was sacked by the Tom Brady-owned club after winning just two of his 15 games in charge.
Plymouth offered Roo a return to management last May, although the club decided to part ways with him after the slipped to rock bottom of the Championship table.