25 May 2024 , 13:45
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Wayne Rooney said he is excited to embark on a purposeful project with Plymouth Argyle and play "expansive football", a promise that echoes eerily to the one made upon joining Birmingham City.
The former England captain was announced as the Pilgrims new head coach on Saturday, marking the 38-year-old's fourth stint in management since retirement, arriving after Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City.
Rooney described the Plymouth job as the "perfect next step" in his managerial career, particularly after the chastening spell in charge of Birmingham. The Blues were relegated to League One following Rooney's torrid 83-day reign, during which the team lost nine of his 15 league matches in charge before he was sacked.
Meanwhile Plymouth Argyle, promoted from League One at the start of the season, finished 21st in the Championship table, securing safety on the final day of the season at the expense of Rooney's Blues courtesy of a 1-0 win against Hull City.
Rooney will now take charge of the Pilgrims after expressing interest in the role following the exit of manager Ian Foster. In a statement to the club's fans, Rooney said he looked forward to working with the club on their "progressive plan" and "helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army."
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He added: “I have experienced first-hand how talented the existing group of players is here – and also the incredible atmosphere at Home Park. The club is on an exciting long-term journey, with a progressive plan in place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it."
The messaging was similar to that voiced by Rooney when he took over at Birmingham following the surprise sacking of John Eustace in October 2023.
Wayne Rooney had been working as a television punditRooney, who had left his role at DC United following the club's failure to qualify for the MLS playoffs, inherited a plucky Birmingham side that sat in the Championship playoff zone. Upon doing so, Rooney hailed the "clear" and "purposeful" plan that the club had in place, while adding his desire to implement a particular playing style and identity that "gets Blues fans on their feet."
The first words from the Manchester United legend were certainly rousing, but the performances were anything but. Four defeats in Rooney's first five matches saw the play-off contending Blues tumble down the table in remarkable fashion. After winning just two of his 15 matches in charge and failing to arrest the slump, Rooney was duly sacked in January with Birmingham two points above the drop zone.
While manager announcements tend to follow similar formulaic drafts, whether the promises to Plymouth fans inspire more fruitful results than those at Birmingham City remains to be seen.
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