Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has admitted that one manager who he played under in his legendary professional career was “very similar” to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Wayne Rooney spent a large portion of his Manchester United playing career under Sir Alex Ferguson after he arrived at Old Trafford in 2004.
Signed from Everton in a deal worth £27m, the 38-year-old United legend enjoyed a prolific spell under Ferguson and hoovered up the major silverware at the club.
Rooney lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League and two League Cups under Ferguson, who retired from football management in 2013.
The former England and United striker continued his playing career at Old Trafford after Ferguson’s retirement, with Rooney later appointed club captain.
Rooney added another League Cup, a Europa League and an FA Cup to his United trophy haul before the England legend left Old Trafford in 2017.
Rooney makes Ferguson comparison
Wayne Rooney had a brief second spell with Everton before playing for DC United and Derby County, with the Manchester United legend retiring from football in 2021.
United’s all-time leading scorer wasted no time in entering the world of management and had spells with both Derby County and DC United as head coach.
Rooney suffered a major setback in his managerial career last season after his ill-fated spell with Birmingham City, which ended with his sacking in January.
However, the former DC United boss bounced back from his Birmingham City sacking and was appointed Plymouth Argyle manager last month.
Speaking in The Times, Rooney opened up about his career on the international stage and his relationship with former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Rooney, who was capped 120 times for the Three Lions and scored 53 times for his country, made his England debut in 2003 under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The former Everton and United star admitted that Eriksson was “very similar” to Sir Alex Ferguson, but Rooney said the ex-England manager was much more “calm.”
“I loved Sven. In a way, he was very similar to Sir Alex Ferguson — a great man-manager,” Rooney wrote for the newspaper.
“The difference was how calm he was. He gave me the No 9 shirt, which signalled I was going to play and I appreciated how much trust he had in me.
“Every player respected Sven and he was just unlucky he didn’t bring England that trophy.”
Rooney on England training under Eriksson
Rooney opened up about his experience of the “unbelievably competitive” training experiences with England and the star-studded roster of players he would play against.
“Training was brilliant,” he said.
“You go from playing for Everton to training with Paul Scholes, Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole. Michael Owen. Sessions were unbelievably competitive. Tackles flying in.
“Steve McClaren and Sammy Lee did most of the coaching while Sven-Goran Eriksson, the manager, and his right-hand man, Tord Grip, watched from the sides.”