Rooney admits Plymouth sacking effectively ended his career as a manager

Wayne Rooney has admitted that his dismissal from Plymouth Argyle in late 2024 effectively brought his managerial career to a close, confessing he had already sensed the job would be his last chance to prove himself in the dugout.

The 40-year-old was appointed Plymouth boss in May 2024 on a three-year contract, arriving after a turbulent three-month tenure at Birmingham City that ended with his sacking at St Andrews. His time at Home Park proved equally short-lived — he was dismissed after just seven months, leaving Plymouth bottom of the Championship. The club has since been relegated to League One.

“I was at a crossroads,” Rooney told The Guardian. “Up till then my whole career had been playing or coaching. I knew if Plymouth didn’t pay off that would probably be my last management job. And when it didn’t pay off I had to come to terms with my future probably not being in the dugout.”

The former Manchester United and England captain said he has not struggled to make peace with that reality, drawing a parallel with his own playing career. “Like when I moved from Man United back to Everton, I accepted quickly that I’m not the level anymore to play for Man United, so you’re coming down again. So I’ve been quite good at not hanging round too long, because I’ve seen players play for too long. After Plymouth, it was tough, there’s no denying that.”

Since leaving Plymouth, Rooney has shifted his focus to broadcasting and media work. He hosts The Wayne Rooney Show on the BBC and co-hosts the Disney+ series Stick to United alongside YouTuber Mark Goldbridge. He is also set to front a new BBC programme, Can You Beat Wayne Rooney?, alongside comedian Alex Brooker.

The comments were made ahead of the release of The Real Rooneys, a Disney+ documentary series about his family life.