- 24 Dec 2024
Ambitious Rooney wants Derby job permanently
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 17 May 2021 22:10 BST
- 4 min read
Wayne Rooney has admitted that he wants the Derby manager’s job on a permanent basis.
Following Phillip Cocu’s dismissal recently, Rooney was asked to step in as part of a temporary coaching team.
He’ll be joined by Liam Rosenior, Justin Walker, and Shay Given.
The managerial uncertainty comes at the same time as Derby are on the cusp of being bought over.
The club is expected to be bought by Sheik Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, the cousin of Man City owner Sheik Mansour, for around £60m.
The new owners may have their own idea of who they want in charge, but Rooney has put his name in the hat.
He wants to follow former colleagues Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker, and Frank Lampard by moving into management.
Lampard impressed enough as manager of Derby that he was eventually given the Chelsea job.
“I wouldn’t be an ambitious person if I sat here and said I didn’t want the job,” Rooney, 35 said.
“We all come into this game to play football and then you have a decision to make: do you want to go into coaching or management?
“I’ve made it quite clear over the last few years that my ambition is to go into management, especially when you see the likes of Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Scott Parker all getting good jobs and doing really well at it.
“We have to get the next two or three games out the way first, but if they go well it puts me in a better position to put our names forward for that role.”
Rooney stepping into management
The former Man Utd star knows his playing career is winding down.
“I’m not in the twilight of my career any more,” he added.
“I’ve got my toes in both dressing rooms, one as a player and one trying to help lead the team. We’ll see where this takes us,”
Derby are currently rock bottom of the Championship, having won just one out of their opening 11 matches.
This weekend, with Rooney in charge, they take on Bristol City.
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