Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney raised an eyebrow or two when he took up the manager's job at D.C. United earlier this year.
Granted, Rooney had spent a small portion of his playing career at the Washington-based outfit. But after the praise he won for a hugely difficult first job in management at Derby County, many expected the 36-year-old to bide his time and wait for a job higher up the English pyramid.
Instead, he filled the D.C. United vacancy less than a month after leaving the relegated Rams. Now, in a candid interview, he has spoken of how he thinks more English coaches should spread their wings and try their luck abroad, while also outlining his goals in management.
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Speaking to The Times, Rooney said: "My ambition one day is to manage at the top and that (a multinational environment) is what you get at top clubs. I looked and thought it’s a great chance to experience it.
"It’s a chance to take myself out of my comfort zone and develop as a coach. I could have sat at home and waited - managers get sacked, normally, around this time and jobs would have come up, but I think in England we have the best league in the world and a great structure below it and we’re a bit stubborn.
"Not enough managers take that risk and challenge themselves by going abroad. Too many just wait to see what comes up in England.
"To go abroad is a gamble but I believe in myself and you could say ‘what is a safe option?' Whatever club you go to, as a manager your job’s not safe. I just thought this is a way of furthering my education.
"Yeah, I played at the top but you go back to square one and I’m at the start of my coaching career and you have to put the work in to get to where you want to go. I want to learn, get better, develop."
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