What Roy Keane said about Wayne Rooney’s next job after Plymouth Argyle sacking & League Two role touted | OneFootball

Roy Keane shared what he thinks Wayne Rooney's next job could be.

Wayne Rooney seems keen for a return to management following his departure from Plymouth Argyle, but comments from Roy Keane contradict what Carlton Palmer has touted for the Manchester United legend.

Rooney joined Plymouth in the summer, following a disastrous stint at Birmingham City which saw the Blues fall from play-off contention to the relegation zone. Sadly, things didn't go to plan in Devon either, as the 39-year-old left the club right at the end of 2024.

Since then, the former England striker has made plenty of punditry appearances, and seems to still be keen on a return to management. Recently, fellow former England international Carlton Palmer tipped Rooney for a return to the dugout in League Two.

However, comments by Roy Keane suggest the opposite for the former Plymouth boss. The Irishman told his fellow Man Utd legend on Stick to Football that he'd be suited to working with "much better players."

What Roy Keane said to Wayne Rooney before Carlton Palmer claim

Rooney enjoyed a solid managerial debut at Derby County, keeping the struggling side in the Championship in his first season at the helm. Since then, things haven't exactly worked out as planned, with disappointing stints at DC United, Birmingham and Plymouth.

Despite these setbacks, Keane offered some words of encouragement to his former colleague on the Stick to Football podcast. The Sky Sports pundit said: "You know what Wayne, you've had good opportunities now, but I think you'd be suited to working with much better players, whatever that role might be. That's where your strengths are."

Just weeks later, Palmer exclusively spoke to Football League World regarding Rooney's managerial future, and where he thinks he should try his hand next. The ex-Sheffield Wednesday star revealed that he thinks the 39-year-old should head to League Two to prove himself.

Palmer's claim is quite contrasting to Keane's, as the former believes Rooney would be able to get a tune out of some lower-quality players, whereas the latter believes he'd be better off working with better players in some capacity.

Whilst many teams across England employ a head coach now rather than a manager, it's still very much the same job, just with a different name on the tin. As a head coach, you're still expected to do everything a manager would.

Sometimes, those who are better at developing players one on one as a coach struggle to adapt to life in the hotseat if appointed as a head coach, and Keane's comments regarding Rooney suggest this could be what the Irishman feels about his former teammate's future in football.

Keane said: "You'd be suited to working with much better players, whatever that role might be." This suggests that the former midfielder thinks that Rooney should look at working with better players to further his career, but not as a manager. It's highly unlikely he'd get offered a managerial role with a better quality squad than he had at Plymouth, so there's potential for the 39-year-old to go and be part of someone's backroom staff at a higher level.

With Palmer then touting Rooney to return to management in League Two, it leaves an interesting conundrum regarding who will be right. The former striker could heed Keane's advice and look to work with better players in a role where he isn't the main man, or prove himself as a manager in League Two, as Palmer suggested.