Wayne Rooney makes cheeky Sunderland, Regis Le Bris comment from time at Plymouth Argyle | OneFootball

Wayne Rooney oversaw a 3-2 win against Sunderland when he was in charge at Home Park

The Frenchman is earning a lot of attention for his work with the Black Cats following their strong start to life back in the Premier League, which now includes a 1-0 win over bitter rivals Newcastle United.

A second half own goal from Nick Woltemade gave the Wearside outfit all three points, moving them into eighth place in the top flight table.

Le Bris took over at the Stadium of Light in July 2024 after the club had just finished 16th in the Championship, and he oversaw promotion through the play-offs after a fourth place finish in his first campaign with the club.

However, his first defeat as manager of the Black Cats came at the expense of Rooney’s Plymouth side, who won 3-2 in September 2024 in the fifth game of the campaign.

Wayne Rooney makes cheeky Régis Le Bris Plymouth comment

Rooney has praised the work Le Bris has done with Sunderland since taking over last year, but has also remembered the 3-2 win his side enjoyed at Home Park against the Black Cats 15 months ago.

He’s called the Frenchman the coach of the season so far in the Premier League, suggesting the fact that his side actually won against the Black Cats as the reason why he remembers the game so well.

“That was one of my only wins, I think, with Plymouth,” said Rooney, via BBC Football on Instagram.

“We played last season, and it was a good game actually, we won late on, 3-2.

“It’s a different squad, different group of players.

“His previous job, he was an analysis coach.

“He’s gone into management and obviously got Sunderland promoted, which was incredible from where Sunderland were to then get Sunderland in the Premier League.

“I think if you’re choosing manager of the season right now, I think he’s probably up there, I’d probably choose him over any other manager at the minute.

“It wasn’t often we won, so that’s why I remember it so much!”

Sunderland took a 1-0 lead and levelled the score at 2-2 in the game through goals from Patrick Robers and Jobe Bellingham.

But a Dan Ballard own goal secured the third and final goal of the game for the Pilgrims, who took their first win under Rooney that afternoon in September last year.

Rooney lasted just 25 games in charge of the Devon outfit, overseeing just five wins, with the club suffering relegation from the Championship as a consequence.

Plymouth are now 21st in the League One table after a difficult start to the current campaign under new manager Tom Cleverley.

Sunderland win was a rare highlight for Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth stint

The 3-2 win over Sunderland was Rooney’s first as Plymouth manager, so it is one he’d remember quite well.

It was a rare highlight for him and the team during his time at Home Park, as he struggled for consistent results.

Sunderland’s rise to eighth in the Premier League since that day has been quite remarkable, and Le Bris deserves a lot of credit for what he’s achieved in the last 15 months.

If they continue to perform well in the top flight, then Rooney’s memory of that 3-2 win may only grow stronger.