Rooney appointed Plymouth manager four months after Birmingham sacking (2024)

Wayne Rooney has been appointed as the new manager of Plymouth Argyle on a three-year deal.

The Manchester United and England legend has returned to management in the Championship just four months after being sacked by Birmingham City.

The 38-year-old boss was axed by the Midlands club after just 15 matches and 83 days back in January, in a season where the Blues were ultimately relegated to League One despite sitting in the top half prior to Rooney's arrival.

Rooney, who will now join the club who narrowly avoided relegation at Birmingham's expense, was described as having a 'strong character and an ability to battle against the odds' as his new club announced the news on Saturday.

First team coaches Kevin Nancekivell and Simon Ireland, as well as goalkeeping coach Daryl Flahavan, will make up Rooney's backroom staff

Plymouth said in a club statement: 'We are delighted to announce that Wayne Rooney has been appointed as the new Head Coach of Plymouth Argyle.

'His appointment follows a lengthy and extensive recruitment process, as a result of which a number of highly experienced Managers and Head Coaches were interviewed. Wayne, however, stood out as the right candidate for Argyle.

'38-year-old Rooney is one of our country’s finest ever players. He is Manchester United’s all-time leading goal scorer – an accolade he also held with England until very recently – and is a five-time Premier League winner.

'Rooney’s managerial experience so far has demonstrated his strong character and ability to battle against the odds. This is emphasised by his first full season in charge at Derby County, where his young team won 55 points despite off-field administrative issues engulfing the club.

'He has since had managerial experience in the MLS at D.C. United, where results improved as he put his own stamp on the squad, and in the Championship with Birmingham City.'

On his appointment, Rooney said: 'Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the Chairman and Board for the faith they have shown in me.

'This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.

'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.

'I can’t wait for the Championship season to start in August.'

Speaking on the BBC, as part of their FA Cup Final coverage, he added: ' I'm really excited. I think to go in as Argyle's new head coach. It was a thorough process with a lot of managers interviewed for the job.

'Thankfully the club found that I was the best person for the job. I'm excited to get started and meet the players, meet the staff and hopefully perform. There's alot of work before we start pre-season training.'

He also said on social media after the appointment was confirmed: 'Absolutely delighted to become the new @Argyle Head Coach!'

The Red Devils legend was seen alongside former team-mate Wes Brown at Wembley ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final between United and Manchester City.

Plymouth have been without a permanent manager since they sacked Ian Foster last month.

Director of football Neil Dewsnip and coach Kevin Nancekivell have been in caretaker charge since Foster was sacked on April 1.

In their six games in charge, they took 10 points out of a possible 16, including a 1-0 victory over Hull City on the final day which led to them escaping relegation by just one point.

Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett said on Saturday: 'Throughout the interview process, Wayne showed himself to be a passionate, intelligent, and knowledgeable candidate with an appetite to prove himself and develop his managerial career.

'So much so, that he reached out to the Board when we started this process and was attracted by the project at hand and showed a real plan on how to lead the football club forward.

'His ambitions and aims match ours perfectly and we feel he is the perfect candidate to provide the exciting and attacking brand of football that we all like to see and help us achieve the club’s mission.

'We look forward to another exciting season of Championship football, and I welcome him to Argyle.'

Rooney turned to management with Derby County between 2020 and 2022, before he had 145 months at the helm of MLS side D.C. United.

He returned to England to replace John Eustace when Birmingham City were in the play-offs, but left the club just six points above the relegation zone.

Despite his terrible reign as Birmingham City boss, it did not dishearten him away from a return to management.

'I definitely want to get back into management,' Rooney claimed back in February.

He continued: 'It was a setback what happened at Birmingham but I'm a fighter and I want to get back into it.

'You know as a manager (getting sacked) is part of the job and you will have setbacks. It's about how you bounce back. I've had some good time to reflect and will make sure I get it right next time.'

Meanwhile, Rooney will also be kept busy this summer as a pundit for the BBC, during the broadcaster's coverage of the upcoming European Championship.