Former Derby County manager Wayne Rooney’s tenure at Pride Park was marred by mixed results. Joining as a player in 2020, Rooney quickly transitioned into a managerial role in January 2021. While he initially guided Derby to Championship survival in his first season, the team faced relegation to League One in his second year due to a 21-point deduction from the EFL.
Rooney, a former England captain and Manchester United striker, has since managed DC United and Birmingham City before taking the helm at Plymouth Argyle. Amid his managerial journey, he shared an interesting anecdote during a recent appearance on Sky Sports’ Stick to Football podcast. Rooney recounted accidentally injuring midfielder Jason Knight during pre-season training, sidelining the player for eight weeks.
With Derby’s promotion back to the Championship, Rooney will face his former club this season as Plymouth Argyle’s manager. Scheduled to visit Pride Park on November 9, Rooney will come up against ex-Derby winger Morgan Whittaker, who will return to face his former team. In pursuit of rejuvenating his managerial career, Rooney signed a three-year contract at Home Park following his departures from DC United and Birmingham City.
