Wayne Rooney has reaffirmed his desire to secure the coveted role of managing Manchester United, despite facing challenges in his coaching path, including a recent departure from Birmingham City.
Rooney, celebrated for his illustrious spell at Old Trafford, where he amassed a record 253 goals over 13 years, ventured into coaching roles at Derby County and D.C. United before his brief tenure at Birmingham.
Despite encountering hurdles such as financial troubles at Derby and falling short of an MLS postseason with D.C. United, Rooney remains steadfast in his ambition to ascend the managerial ranks.
Speaking as a pundit during BBC One’s coverage of United’s FA Cup triumph over Nottingham Forest, Rooney outlined his goal to manage in the Premier League, preferably at Manchester United or Everton, within the next decade.
Despite the setback at Birmingham, Rooney remains resilient, acknowledging that setbacks are inherent in the managerial journey.
Reflecting on his stint at Birmingham, where he secured only two wins out of 15 games before his dismissal in January, Rooney attributed the lack of fan acceptance to the timing of his appointment.
Notably, few of Rooney’s former Manchester United teammates have pursued coaching careers, with Michael Carrick being a notable exception. While some, like Robin van Persie, are in the process of obtaining coaching badges, others have transitioned into punditry roles.