Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney says he has regrets about his time in management and doesn’t expect to return to the dugout.
Rooney took over at Derby County in January 2021 after a positive caretaker spell, but his tenure was overshadowed by the club’s financial crisis, and he departed in June 2022 after relegation to League One.
He then led DC United for 15 months in the United States before moving to Birmingham City, where he was dismissed after 83 days following nine defeats in 15 matches.
His most recent role at Plymouth Argyle ended by mutual consent, with just four wins and 13 losses in 23 Championship games in 2024–25. Like Birmingham, Plymouth were relegated to League One.
Speaking during a BBC Sport Reddit AMA, Rooney said he reflects on his choices and singled out Birmingham as his biggest regret, particularly the timing of succeeding John Eustace.
Rooney was the first managerial appointment under Birmingham’s new American owners, Shelby Companies Limited, who took control in July 2023 and removed Eustace three months later. Eustace had the team sixth in the Championship; they had slipped to 20th by the time Rooney was sacked.
After leaving St Andrew’s, Rooney said he needed time to process the exit and would get ready for his next managerial opportunity after spending time with family. Now 40, and more than two and a half years on, he says he doesn’t envisage taking another management job.
Asked if he could return, he replied that he probably wouldn’t, adding that while he never completely shuts the door, his current mindset is against it.
In January, he called it a “no-brainer” to rejoin Manchester United in a coaching role if invited to be part of Michael Carrick’s staff at Old Trafford.
Rooney is currently part of the BBC’s punditry team for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.