Rooney admits management career could be over as punditry gives him purpose

Wayne Rooney has conceded that his career in football management may be finished, revealing that his shift into punditry is motivated by a need for purpose rather than financial reward. The former Manchester United and England striker made the admission in a new Disney+ documentary, The Real Rooneys, filmed alongside his wife Coleen.

“I’m not doing it for money, I’m doing it for a purpose rather than just being at the house all day,” Rooney said. “There’s a possibility I’ll never manage again so moving forward. I need a role on The Masked Singer, but I’d get hammered.”

Rooney has managed Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City, and Plymouth Argyle, but struggled to sustain any of his last two roles, failing to complete a full season at either Championship club. He departed Plymouth in December 2024 and has not held a management position since, making it approaching two years out of the dugout.

He is now a regular presence on BBC’s Match of the Day and co-hosts the podcast Stick to United with Wayne Rooney alongside YouTuber Mark Goldbridge as part of the Overlap brand.

Reflecting on his Plymouth exit in conversation with Coleen during the documentary, Rooney drew a contrast between the predictability of a playing career’s end and the abruptness of losing a management job. “As a player when your career is going to end you can prepare for that,” he said. “So the next stage in management you don’t know whether you’ll be there a year, two years, 10 years or three months. You’re not prepared when you lose the job. I’m enjoying Match of the Day and it’s time to learn and get better at what I’m doing.”

Rooney also addressed speculation about a potential appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, a programme Coleen finished as runner-up on in 2024. Asked about the possibility on This Morning, he was non-committal. “I’ve been asked all the time as well and there’s been rumours for the past few years and there is again this year,” he said, adding only: “Have to wait and see.”