Despite a failed spell at Birmingham City, Wayne Rooney eyes Manchester United job

Manchester United’s all time top scorer, Wayne Rooney, was dismissed from his position as a manager in Birmingham City  in January, following a 3-0 loss to Leeds United. Recently, he spoke to the media as a pundit on a clash between United and Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup’s fifth round.

Rooney has not given up to be a great manager in the future. The Liverpool-born even aims high as he revealed that managing either United or Everton is on his bucket list.

Also Read: FA Cup Drama: Man United set to host Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup

Wayne Rooney is hungry for more

“Managing Manchester United or Everton is the aim, these big jobs are where you want to get to,” he said on the BBC Match of the Day. “But it’s a process,” added Rooney, 38. “I have got to go through the steps and get myself back on track.”

Blues had a dreadful run during his reign as they sit in 20th on the table, losing nine in 15 matches in the process. Amid the situation, Rooney said that he wants more of a similar role in the future.  

“I definitely want to get back into management. It was a setback what happened at Birmingham but I’m a fighter and I want to get back into it,” he said.

“You know as a manager [being sacked] is part of the job and you will have setbacks. It’s about how you bounce back. I’ve had some good time to reflect and will make sure I get it right next time.”

The Birmingham job was Rooney’s third employment as a manager after Derby County and the MLS side DC United, since retiring as a player in 2021. But in Birmingham, he earned the least amount of games compared to the two previous chances. Rooney spent 84 games in total with Derby, 11 of them as a caretaker. Meanwhile with DC United he  reached 53 games with the Washington-based team.