Wayne Rooney took responsibility for enforcing Sir Alex Ferguson’s principles at Manchester United after the long-serving manager stepped down in 2013.
Rooney was announced as the new head coach of MLS outfit D.C. United last year as he continues his fledgling coaching career. The former striker has, unsurprisingly, picked up managerial techniques from the boss whom he played under for nine years.
Jesse Lingard, who left United this summer to join Nottingham Forest as a free agent, has explained how Rooney took it upon himself during his playing days to continue on Ferguson’s training ground rules at Old Trafford after the Scot had stepped down from his role.
Rooney was made United captain by Louis van Gaal in 2014 and spent four seasons as a prominent figure in the club’s dressing room after Ferguson’s retirement; playing a key role under David Moyes, Van Gaal and the first season of Jose Mourinho ’s tenure at Old Trafford.
Speaking on the podcast Diary of a CEO, Lingard explained how Ferguson had three training ground rules as a dress code that United players had to adhere to – and those continued under the rule of Rooney.
He said: “At [Manchester] United we’re brought up [being told] you’ve got to wear black boots, no gloves and no long bottoms in training. It’s just the basic things and you’re brought up with that.”
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Lingard continued explaining: “It’s just values, it’s morals, it’s the way you’ve been brought up. United put that into us at an early age.” The current Forest midfielder then went on to explain how it was Rooney who would enforce the rules.
He reflected upon a time when United took on Russian club CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, when they were playing in temperatures that went below freezing. However, Rooney ensured that none of the players wore gloves.
Lingard – who scored goals in the EFL Cup final success of 2017 and the Community Shield win over Leicester City a matter of months earlier – ended his long association with United last summer and currently is at Nottingham Forest.
The 30-year-old, who previously had loan stints at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Derby County and Brighton and Hove Albion, has scored two goals and provided two assists for Steve Cooper’s side this campaign across 16 appearances – although he is no longer a regular starter at the County Ground.
