Wayne Rooney makes huge first decision since Man Utd legend’s shock move to become Plymouth boss
WAYNE ROONEY is prepared to work with the existing backroom team at Plymouth.
Rooney has brought in old sidekick Pete Shuttleworth but will work closely with Keith Nancekivell and Simon Ireland at Home Park.
Potential appointment Carl Robinson has taken up a post with MLS outfit Atlanta United.
Robinson and Shuttleworth worked with Rooney at DC United and then Birmingham.
While Nancekivell has been the caretaker manager at Plymouth since Ian Foster’s departure on April 1.
And Ireland who spent his senior career at the likes of Huddersfield, Mansfeld and Doncaster has been first-team coach at Plymouth since March.
Last month the Manchester United legend penned a three-year deal, with the Championship club.
Only four months before he was sacked as the Birmingham City manager.
The Premier League icon’s time with Birmingham was catastrophic, winning only two of his 15 games in the dugout.
His 83-day stint at St Andrews went some way to cementing the club’s fate of relegation at the end of the season.
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When Rooney arrived at the club they sat in sixth place in the Championship but his terrible run of results, coupled with similar form from his replacement Tony Mowbray, saw the club tank to 22nd place.
But Rooney, 38, has been given another chance in the division by Plymouth – who narrowly avoided the drop themselves this season.
Meanwhile, before the Championship season commences the United legend has been busy working as a pundit for the BBC at the Euros this summer.
He even discussed a number of ways Gareth Southgate has gone wrong in Germany.
England currently sits on four points after two group-stage games against Serbia and Denmark.
But the Three Lions disappointed fans after a dismal 1-1 draw against the Danish on Thursday.
Southgate’s squad head into the final game on Tuesday against Slovenia and need a win to secure the first spot in Group C going into the Round of 16.
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Southgate's 12 blunders according to Rooney
Here are the 12 blunders Wayne Rooney believes have been made by Gareth Southgate:
- Playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield
- Selecting Phil Foden on the left
- Not starting Anthony Gordon
- Lack of energy and tempo
- Not pressing
- Not selecting Jordan Henderson, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford
- No co-ordination going forward
- Lack of vocal presence on the pitch
- Poor substitutions – Eze and Bowen over Gordon and Palmer
- Being too stubborn
- Players coming inside too early
- Overthinking due to the number of options