Wayne Rooney Poised to Take Helm at Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney is set to be confirmed as the head coach of Championship side Plymouth Argyle on Saturday after discussing the vacancy. Rooney, 38, aims to restore his reputation after a disappointing stint at Birmingham last season, where he lost nine out of 15 games. Argyle is searching for a new manager because they dismissed Ian Foster towards the end of last season. Director of football Neil Dewsnip and coach Kevin Nancekivell assumed control for the remainder of the season, successfully guiding Plymouth to safety. Ironically, their accomplishment came at Birmingham’s expense.

Dewsnip knows Rooney from his time coaching at Everton’s academy. Wayne Rooney played 763 games for Everton, Manchester United, MLS club DC United, and Derby. He transitioned into a player-coach role with Derby in November 2020 and retired two months later when they named him the permanent manager. The former England striker managed 85 games at Derby before he moved back to the U.S. to become the manager of his former club, DC United. In October 2023, Rooney assumed the role of Birmingham manager, driven by a desire to make a positive impact.

However, the team’s struggles under his guidance cut short Rooney’s leadership stint. Less than three months later, the team dismissed him from the position after losing nine out of 15 games.