Wayne Rooney has expressed his aspiration to land the “dream job” of managing Manchester United, despite facing setbacks in his coaching journey, including a recent dismissal from Birmingham City.
Rooney, renowned for his prolific tenure at Old Trafford, where he scored a record 253 goals over 13 years, transitioned into coaching roles at Derby County and D.C. United before his brief stint at Birmingham.
Although he encountered challenges, including financial issues at Derby and failing to secure an MLS postseason with D.C. United, Rooney remains determined to climb the managerial ladder.
Speaking as a pundit during BBC One’s coverage of United’s FA Cup victory over Nottingham Forest, Rooney outlined his ambition to manage in the Premier League, ideally at Manchester United or Everton, within the next decade.
Despite the setback at Birmingham, Rooney remains resilient, acknowledging that setbacks are part of the managerial journey.
Reflecting on his tenure at Birmingham, where he won only two of 15 games before being sacked in January, Rooney attributed the lack of acceptance from fans to the timing of his appointment.
Notably, few of Rooney’s former Manchester United teammates have pursued coaching careers, with Michael Carrick being an exception. While some, like Robin van Persie, are in the process of obtaining coaching badges, others have transitioned into punditry roles.