Wayne Rooney's managerial career has been a rollercoaster ride that has left him nursing some painful regrets. The legendary striker, now 40 and reflecting on his tumultuous time in the dugout, admitted to feeling disheartened by his experiences and hinted strongly that he won't be dusting off his managerial boots anytime soon.
The seeds of disappointment were sown at Derby County, where Rooney took charge in January 2021 after a stint as caretaker manager. However, his tenure was marred by the club's financial woes, culminating in their relegation to League One before he departed Pride Park in June 2022.
A brief foray across the Atlantic saw him manage DC United for 15 months, but it was his spell at Birmingham City that left a particularly sour taste. Rooney replaced John Eustace in October 2023 and led the team on a catastrophic downward spiral, securing just two wins from 15 games and plummeting to 20th in the Championship before his own dismissal after a mere 83 days.
The short but brutal stint at Plymouth Argyle only added to the sense of disillusionment. With four wins and 13 defeats in 23 Championship matches, Rooney ultimately left the Pilgrims by mutual consent earlier this year – another managerial misstep that's contributed to his current wariness of the dugout.
Despite previously expressing a desire for a coaching role at Manchester United, potentially under Michael Carrick, Rooney now suggests that such opportunities are unlikely to lure him back into full-time management. While he remains open-minded enough to say 'never say never', it's clear his current headspace is far removed from the thrill of the managerial game. These days, you can find him sharing his expertise as a pundit for the BBC's 2026 World Cup coverage.