Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney revealed to Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville what would be the “pinnacle” moment for him in football.
Wayne Rooney called it time on his legendary playing career in 2021 and took his first steps into management as Derby County boss.
The 38-year-old former Manchester United striker had entered the world of coaching towards the tail end of his playing career as a player-coach for Derby County.
Following his spell with Derby County, Rooney returned to the States and took up the managerial role at DC United, having previously played for the MLS side.
The former United captain made the decision to leave the United States in 2023 and returned to England for a spell with Birmingham City.
However, Rooney’s run at Birmingham City only lasted 83 days and the United legend was dismissed in January after suffering nine defeats in his 15-match run.
The ex-England international had taken up different punditry roles, including on TNT Sports and Sky Sports, over the last few months after his exit from the St Andrew’s.
Rooney had linked up with United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville for The Overlap’s Stick to Football show and was also a pundit for BBC during the FA Cup.
The former Birmingham City and Derby County boss was named as part of BBC’s punditry line-up for Euro 2024 this summer before his return to management.
Rooney’s ‘Mount Everest objective’ in football
Wayne Rooney finally secured his return to the dugout after he was appointed as the new head coach for Plymouth Argyle this month.
The Manchester United legend recently appeared on The Overlap and took part in a quick-fire Q&A alongside former teammate Gary Neville.
Neville asked Rooney which is the one team in the world that he wished he could manage, with two sides popping up in the mind of the Plymouth Argyle boss.
Rooney admitted that he would be keen to take charge of Everton from an “emotional” standpoint, having started his playing career at his boyhood club.
However, the former England and United captain admitted that the “pinnacle” achievement for him in football would be to manage the Red Devils.
“It’s a tough one because I’ve always said that I’d love to manage Everton or Manchester United,” Rooney said.
“I’d probably say United. That would be the pinnacle: to go and manage Manchester United.
“Everton’s more from an emotional one, a club I support and love, but United would be the pinnacle really.”
Rooney outlines plans at Plymouth
Speaking after his appointment as Plymouth boss, Rooney stressed the importance of academy players after talking about his emergence at Everton at a young age.
United’s all-time leading scorer revealed that he has a “real passion” for giving younger players a chance to shine on the pitch.
“Academy players are really important,” Rooney told Plymouth’s official website.
“I was a player who came into the first team at 16. A lot of young players are good enough, but maybe don’t get the chance. I’ve got a real passion for that.
“Everyone in the club, the community, when you see one of your own players coming through, it gives everyone a massive lift.
“Everyone’s really proud to see those players coming through into the team, and it’s something which I’ve done. I started a 15-year-old at DC United, at centre-back.
“If you are good enough and you have belief, and of course young players need protection as well at the right times, I think it’s important, if those players are developing, that you give them that opportunity.
“I want players to play with freedom. I think that’s really important because football has gone really structured in recent years.”