Will Wayne Rooney manage in the Premier League THIS season?

James Shearman

• Updated: 16 Apr 2022 09:17 CDT
• 3 min read

Wayne Rooney has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Burnley following the sacking of Sean Dyche.

The Clarets relieved Dyche of his duties on Friday after nine and a half years in the job, with the side in the relegation places.

Meanwhile, Rooney's Derby beat Championship leaders Fulham, delaying their return to the Premier League.

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The Manchester United legend has done well with a poor Rams squad, keeping their hopes of staying up alive despite a 21 point penalty.

Not to mention the turmoil behind the scenes as a result of the club's ownership situation.

The win over Fulham kept them within nine points of safety, but relegation to League 1 seems inevitable.

And, even though the future looks more promising, with potential owner Chris Kirchner watching from the sidelines on Friday evening, Rooney will want to climb the managerial ladder.

''I think it is a compliment to me and the staff, and what we have been trying to do here (at Derby), when you are getting linked with Premier League clubs,'' Rooney said on the matter.

"I was surprised when I saw Sean Dyche had been sacked, he has been brilliant for Burnley for the last 10 years.

''I have seen the links in various news articles but for me what is important is I focus on trying to keep the club (Derby) in this division and the future, my future, depends on this takeover, that needs to be completed.''

Rooney is expected to see out the rest of the Championship campaign before deciding on his long-term future.

Burnley sack Dyche

The precise details of Dyche's sacking won't come out for some time but what is for sure is that he has been hard done by.

The former Watford manager won Burnley promotion to the Premier League and kept them in the Premier League for three seasons before this - on a tiny budget.

And, despite winning just four games this season, they still had a decent chance of leapfrogging Frank Lampard's Everton.