Manchester United legend leaves ‘special’ Plymouth with Championship end

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Wayne Rooney has thanked Plymouth Argyle fans for “the memories we’ll share forever” after ending his 25-game reign as manager with the Championship club bottom and four points from safety.

Debutant manager Rooney was under pressure after overseeing a 14-game winning streak, including a 2-0 defeat at Oxford United on Sunday, which was Argyle’s fourth successive home defeat without scoring.

“To the Green Army, thank you for making games at Home Park so special,” said the 39-year-old, who also praised his coaching staff, club chairman Simon Hallett and director of football Neil Dewsnip.

“These are memories that we will share forever. Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look for and take an interest in their results.”

Rooney leaves Plymouth

Rooney, assistant manager Mike Phelan and manager Simon Ireland have left The Pilgrims by mutual consent, with first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards taking charge of the visit of Bristol City on Wednesday ( 12.30pm GMT) and Daryl Flahavan continuing as goalkeeper. trainer

Former United player Phelan had coached Rooney during his time as assistant manager at Manchester United, first under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2008 and 2013, with whom his achievements included three Premier League titles, two FA Cup wins Carabao and two races to the Champions League final.

Phelan returned to the role between 2018 and 2022, working with managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.

Rooney Plymouth record

United’s all-time top goalscorer described joining Argyle as “the perfect next step in my career” when he was surprisingly handed the job in May.

Hallett said Rooney’s “ambitions and goals” were a perfect match for the club, adding that he would provide an “exciting, attacking brand of football that we all enjoy watching and will help us achieve the club’s mission.” .

Steven Schumacher led Plymouth to promotion in 2023 before leaving in December that year to join Stoke City, with his replacement, Ian Foster, taking over for a dismal three-month tenure before an interim management team ensured safety on the final day of last season.

Starting with a 4-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday as part of a four-game winless run, Argyle have struggled throughout the campaign and have never managed back-to-back wins under Rooney.

They had back-to-back home wins against Sunderland and Luton Town in September and beat fourth-tier Cheltenham Town to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup, but have not won since beating Portsmouth 1-0 in home on November 5.

Rooney’s managerial record

Plymouth were widely mocked for appointing Rooney after the former England striker played a major role in Birmingham City’s relegation from the Championship in 2023/24.

Birmingham were in the play-off places when Rooney was installed in October 2023 but was forced to sack him after a run of nine defeats in 15 games that City failed to shake off recover, with Plymouth among the clubs to stay in charge.

Rooney left DC United to join City, after failing to guide the club to the MLS play-offs during a 15-month stay in Washington.

His first managerial role was arguably his most successful, guiding Derby County to Championship safety in 2020/21 at a time of financial trouble for the Rams.

Evertonian Rooney left Derby, who had been relegated a month earlier and went 21 points adrift that season due to financial problems, in June 2022.



 
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