Wayne Rooney: Ex-England, Manchester United captain appointed new Plymouth head coach - ‘Perfect next step’

Wayne Rooney has been appointed as manager of Championship team Plymouth Argyle, the club announced on Saturday.

Plymouth had been on the hunt for a new manager after they sacked Ian Foster in April, with the club finishing the season in 21st place.

That finish was just one point clear of Birmingham City, who were relegated the same season that they sacked Rooney as their own manager.

The former England captain was let go in January, not even reaching three months in the job, losing nine of his 15 games after he took over a club in the play-off places at the time.

Plymouth represents Rooney’s fourth job as manager. He first took over Derby County and kept them in the Championship against a backdrop of severe financial difficulties, though departed once they were relegated the following season, largely due to a deduction of 21 points.

He returned to former club DC United in Major League Soccer, this time as manager, for more than a year before handling the reins at Birmingham as part of an American consortium’s revamp following their takeover.

"Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the chairman and board for the faith they have shown in me," Rooney said.

"This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.

"I have experienced first-hand how talented the existing group of players is here – and also the incredible atmosphere at Home Park. The club is on an exciting long-term journey, with a progressive plan in place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it."

Argyle chairman Simon Hallett said: "Throughout the interview process, Wayne showed himself to be a passionate, intelligent, and knowledgeable candidate with an appetite to prove himself and develop his managerial career.

"So much so, that he reached out to the board when we started this process and was attracted by the project at hand and showed a real plan on how to lead the football club forward.

"His ambitions and aims match ours perfectly and we feel he is the perfect candidate to provide the exciting and attacking brand of football that we all like to see and help us achieve the club's mission."

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