'It's sad to see' - Derby County view given on Wayne Rooney after Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle exploits | OneFootball

Wayne Rooney's managerial exploits in the EFL have been well-documented

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Wayne Rooney's mixed fortunes as a head coach have been well-documented, and it has often begged the question as to whether we will see one of England's greatest-ever talents return to the dugout in the future.

The Liverpudlian's exploits as a player cannot be disputed, as he backed up his breakthrough years at Everton with a trophy-laden stint at Manchester United, where he would also become the club's all-time record goalscorer in January 2017 with an eventual total of 253 strikes, as well as previously holding the same accolade for the Three Lions before being overtaken on that front by Harry Kane in 2023.

After well and truly cementing his legacy at Old Trafford, Goodison Park and the Premier League as a whole, it was a major shock when, after a brief spell as a player with D.C. United in the MLS, Rooney returned to English football with Derby County in January 2020 under the management of Philip Cocu.

During this period, the Rams were still hurting off the back of their defeat to Aston Villa in the 2019 Championship play-off final at Wembley, with the club still yet to return to such heights.

However, an interesting managerial career to-date was born in the East Midlands when Rooney, initially as interim, then permanent boss, looked to alter the club's fortunes amid extremely taxing circumstances, such as a 21-point deduction.

Yet, after earning mass plaudits for his conduct and managerial skills at Pride Park, Rooney couldn't translate such form into further Championship stints at Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.

As a result, whilst still having some form of admiration for Rooney, FLW's Derby County fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, believes we are unlikely to see the 39-year-old return to management.

Derby County stance offered on Wayne Rooney's managerial career amid failed Birmingham, Plymouth stints

Rooney oversaw 85 games in charge across a one-and-a-half year period in DE24, winning just 25 of those whilst working alongside current RC Strasbourg head coach, Liam Rosenior.

Ultimately, he would preserve the Rams' Championship status on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday, before suffering relegation the following campaign.

To his credit, Rooney at least gave a side that included Ryan Allsop, Curtis Davies, Eiran Cashin, Max Bird, Jason Knight, Malcolm Ebiowei and Colin Kazim-Richards a fighting chance of survival, as Derby would've finished 17th without the 21-point deduction, before he left the club in June 2022.

However, the start of a downward trajectory in the eyes of many EFL onlookers started at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park between October 2023 and January 2024, where Rooney won just two of 15 games in charge of Birmingham, who plummeted from sixth to 20th before eventually being relegated four months later.

The same fate would transpire at Home Park despite Rooney being offered a managerial reprieve, as he won five games out of 25, mutually agreeing to leave the eventually-relegated Argyle after a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United last December which left the club rooted to the foot of the table.

As a result, Woodward thinks it's highly unlikely he is offered another EFL vacancy.

"I don't see Wayne Rooney managing in the EFL again," Shaun told FLW. "Who's going to touch him?

"He was relegated with Derby - albeit very unlucky because of the circumstances - was with Birmingham and Plymouth, and they dropped like a stone. He's not succeeded at any club he's been at.

"I personally loved him at Derby," Woodward added.

"I thought what he did was amazing. But maybe, because of the circumstances where he couldn't spend money, he had to get the best out of what he had at his disposal, the players brought into his ethos and it was 'us against the world'.

"I do think that helped him. But, as soon as he got onto a level-playing field where he could spend, buy and sell, he got found out at Birmingham and Plymouth.

"It's sad to see because, as a player, he's one of the greatest English players of all time," Woodward claimed. "But, as a manager, it just hasn't worked out for him since he left Derby.

"If I was a Championship chairman, I wouldn't be going anywhere near him if I'm totally honest. Clubs have brought him in because of his name rather than what he's good at.

"There's much better coaches and managers who should be further up the pecking order than him," Shaun concluded.

Although Rooney's exploits as a player and manager are well known for being at a stark contrast, there is one particular flashpoint which may work against him if other clubs weigh up a potential move in the future.

This came in August 2025 following the release of Birmingham City's Amazon Prime documentary titled 'Built In Birmingham: Brady And The Blues', in which minority stakeholder and NFL icon, Tom Brady, questioned Rooney's work ethic as a head coach after being invited to watch an analytical training session on defensive structure.

However, Rooney was of the belief that, at the time, Blues were still in a state - which has since been rectified by Chris Davies after relegation - that not many managers or head coaches could have turned around.

At present, the England icon continues to be a regular on our screens as an analyst on Match of The Day, where he will reportedly earn £800,000 across two seasons' worth of punditry.

The last potential managerial vacancy of note Rooney was linked with was at Blackburn Rovers in April, at a point where Valerien Ismael was under pressure shortly after replacing John Eustace - ironically the 'Scouser's predecessor at Birmingham.