Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has reportedly admitted that he entered football management in an attempt to try and become manager at Old Trafford in the future.
The former striker, who netted 253 goals for United during his 13-year spell at the club, stepped into the world of football management in November 2020, taking interim charge at Derby County. After impressing during his first few games at the helm, Rooney landed the job on a full-time basis in January last year and kept them in the Championship on the final day of the season.
This term, Derby were slapped with a 21-point deduction — meaning Rooney has faced the near-impossible job of keeping the club in the Championship, all while off-field problems have threatened to bring the club crashing down. However, with seven games to go, the Rams are still in with a fighting chance of staying up, meaning the former striker could pull off a remarkable achievement. And United fans have been urging him on along the way.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag might already know the answer to Manchester United's £50m transfer error
But while the situation at Pride Park remains the former United star's top priority, he has admitted that he would like to shoulder the responsibility of being in charge at Old Trafford in the future. He was offered an interview for the job at Everton — his boyhood club — ahead of Frank Lampard landing the role in January, but turned the offer down in favour of staying at Derby.
However, it appears as though Rooney, who has been linked with United in recent months, would not be prepared to stick around if the Reds came calling. He has admitted that the main reason he entered management was to have a chance of landing the top job at Old Trafford. Rooney reportedly made the revelation at a black-tie event in Manchester over the weekend.
The Sun reports that he said: "The whole reason in me going into management is Manchester United. I got offered the job interview for the Everton job. I want to be Manchester United manager. I know I am not ready now but I have to plan everything I do to make sure one day it will happen."
Even though United are currently on the hunt for a new manager at Old Trafford, it is unlikely that Rooney is approached about the job in the near future. But never say never in terms of him eventually taking up the role.
However, in terms of United fans reactions on Twitter, their opinions were split over the possibility of Rooney becoming the manager. Some were hoping maybe at some point in the future, while others didn't want him on the basis that they had enough of ex-player appointments.
Here is a selection of some of their comments:
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
