English giants Manchester United were reportedly keen on bringing former talisman Wayne Rooney back to Old Trafford - but the Englishman turned down the move.
The Red Devils had hoped to install Rooney as part of Erik Ten Hag 's backroom staff, who was appointed on Thursday morning.
But Rooney, who is currently in the hot seat at Derby County, made it clear that he would only leave for the top job at United.
Rooney had previously been approached by Everton about taking the reins after Rafa Benitez was dismissed earlier this season. The Evertonian surprisingly refused an interview and the Toffees instead moved for Frank Lampard.
Ten Hag was confirmed as the new United boss on Thursday after weeks of speculation and will take charge at Old Trafford at the end of the season.
United are currently in the process of assembling the rest of his coaching staff, with the personnel who remained from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure set to depart.
And The Athletic have reported that the club's former captain and all-time record goalscorer Rooney was on the list of the candidates for a position in the Dutchman's team.
Interestingly, Rooney was not the only iconic United striker linked with a return to Old Trafford, with Robin van Persie also mentioned.
As for who will be joining Ten Hag in the dugout, his current assistant at Ajax, Mitchell van der Gaag, will move to Manchester, while Steve McClaren next to be confirmed.
The former England manager worked with Ten Hag at FC Twente and also spent just over a year as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at United during the Red Devils' treble-winning season of 1998/99.
