Max Bird has hailed Wayne Rooney for his ‘big part’ in his breakthrough at Derby County.
Max Bird has finally brought his 14 year stay at Derby County to an end ahead of his move to Bristol City.
The midfielder’s exit was confirmed in the January transfer window, before he returned to Pride Park on loan until the end of the season.
Bird joined the Rams’ academy in 2010 and made his first-team debut at only 16 years old in September 2017.
The 23-year-old made his breakthrough under Philip Cocu during the 2019-20 season and has since become a mainstay in the senior team, racking up 200 appearances for the club.
Bird made a key contribution to Derby’s promotion this season, picking up six goals and seven assists, including an early opener in his final appearance in the win over Carlisle United.
Max Bird explains what Wayne Rooney did during his breakthrough
Ahead of his switch to Ashton Gate, Bird thanked Wayne Rooney for the contribution he made to his breakthrough in the Midlands.
Speaking to Derby County’s official website, he said: “Wayne Rooney was a big part for me. He brought out something that was being kept inside of me; he gave me loads of confidence, told me loads of good things.
“He showed me how he wanted me to play and it suited me and that was the first season where I felt I made my mark.”
Bird was a regular under Rooney at Pride Park and was a positive during the season in which they were relegated to the Championship.
The former England international gave opportunities to a number of younger players during his time at the club, with the likes of Jason Knight, Lee Buchanan and Louie Sibley also enjoying regular game-time.
Luke Plange, who made 26 appearances for Derby, hailed Rooney as the ‘best and most important coach’ of his career.
Rooney’s only real success in management came with Derby, and it was unfortunate that it was the club’s off-the-pitch issues that resulted in his exit.
Paul Warne now needs to be supported in the Championship
It would have been interesting to see how much further the 38-year-old could have guided the Rams if they had avoided a point deduction, but the club certainly won’t look back now that they have achieved promotion again.
Paul Warne has come under some criticism during their time in League One, but should be given a fresh start after managing to take them back to the Championship.
It has been a difficult time for Derby in recent years, but an immediate return to the third tier really shouldn’t be on the cards at all.
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