John Rooney has made it clear he aims to reach the highest levels of football management, and he’s determined to do so while leading Macclesfield.
The younger brother of former England captain Wayne Rooney, John recently garnered attention for orchestrating a remarkable FA Cup upset over Crystal Palace. He will have another opportunity to face Premier League competition when Brentford visits Moss Rose this Monday.
The 35-year-old is off to an energetic start as a manager, having taken over from Robbie Savage in the summer after contributing to the team’s success in winning the Northern Premier League title last season.
“I’m new to management and I aspire to be as successful as possible,” Rooney stated. “If that wasn’t my goal, I wouldn’t be in this role. My hope is to advance Macclesfield to the heights we believe we can achieve.”
“It’s a long journey ahead, but this club is moving in a positive direction. I want to progress in my career, and ideally, that will be with Macclesfield.”
After being released by Everton, Rooney joined Macclesfield Town’s academy. He enjoyed a playing career with clubs such as the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Chester, Wrexham, Barrow, and Stockport before returning to Moss Rose in 2023.
He expressed his desire to manage back in the summer of 2024, but Robbie Savage was appointed at that time. When Savage left for Forest Green in early July, Rooney seized the opportunity to take the helm.
“Did I anticipate it would happen so quickly? Probably not, but when the chance arose, I was eager to grasp it because you never know when another opportunity may present itself,” Rooney explained.
Although Macclesfield’s FA Cup performance has brought significant attention, Rooney’s primary focus remains on helping the team climb the football pyramid. Since the victory over Crystal Palace, they have won five out of six games in the National League North, securing a position in the play-off spots.
“We’ve handled things well, and I haven’t taken the time to reflect on our achievements just yet, as we have other targets to focus on, and we need to keep pushing,” he added.
– Lessons from FA Cup heroes Macclesfield
– Macclesfield’s historic FA Cup upset against Crystal Palace
Rooney’s managerial journey, while still in its infancy, has already faced a heartbreaking challenge that no coach should endure. In December, forward Ethan McLeod, just 21 years old, tragically lost his life in a car accident while returning from a match, prompting Rooney to personally inform each player of the devastating news.
Most of the players were his teammates from the previous season, and Rooney has expressed gratitude for their support during this transition into management.
“Managing players I played alongside can be quite challenging, but the lads have been incredibly supportive, especially during moments of dip in our performance,” he acknowledged. “I’m grateful to them; they’ve been fantastic.”