Wayne Rooney names which two clubs he would like to manage next

Wayne Rooney names which two clubs he would like to manage next Wayne Rooney Says Everton or Manchester United Are His Only Routes Back Into Management Wayne Rooney has done four management jobs, and by his own admission that may be enough. The former England captain says he doubts he will return to the dugout, with only Everton or Manchester United carrying enough pull to change his mind. Rooney has been out of coaching since leaving Plymouth Argyle on New Year’s Eve in 2024. That spell ended after four wins in 23 Championship matches, with Plymouth bottom of the table. It was another tough assignment on a CV that already included Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City. Rooney management return looks unlikely Asked whether he could see himself going back into management, Rooney did not dress it up when speaking on Virgin Radio. “I doubt it, again I know I’ve done four difficult jobs. The only way I’d go back in any capacity would be Everton or Manchester United, but that’s very unlikely.” That is clear enough. He knows the reality of the market, he knows the scale of those clubs, and he knows how rare those openings are. When asked which of the two he would prefer, his answer was simple, “The one that comes first.” There is no mystery as to why those two matter. Everton was his club first. Rooney joined the academy at nine and built his name at Goodison Park before returning later in his career. Manchester United was where he became one of the defining players of his generation. Everton and Manchester United links remain strong Across two spells with Everton, Rooney scored 28 goals in 117 appearances. At United, the numbers went to another level. He scored 253 goals in 559 matches and became the club’s all-time leading scorer. He also won 17 major trophies, including the Champions League, the Club World Cup and five Premier League titles. That record explains why Rooney’s name still carries weight at both clubs, even if management has not gone to plan. Great players do not automatically become great managers. Football has made that point often enough. Premier League and England record still stands out Rooney’s playing legacy is secure regardless of what happens next. In the Premier League, he scored 208 goals in 491 games for Everton and Manchester United, the third-highest total in the competition’s history behind Alan Shearer and Harry Kane. He remains the only player to reach 200 goals and 100 assists in the competition. For England, he scored 53 goals in 120 caps. Only Kane has scored more for the national side, and only two players have won more caps. He also remains England’s youngest-ever goalscorer, scoring his first international goal at 17 years and 317 days.