Rooney to be named Plymouth head coach

Plymouth Argyle are set to confirm the appointment of Wayne Rooney tomorrow (May 25) after finalising terms for the former England striker to become their new head coach.

Rooney, 38, has been out of management since he was sacked by Birmingham City after just 83 days in charge of the Championship club.

The ex-Manchester United and England striker succeeds former Plymouth head coach Ian Foster, who was dismissed in April after less than three months at the helm. Plymouth finished 20th in their first season since 2009-10 back in the Championship, one place above the drop zone.

The search for Foster’s Home Park successor was led by Argyle director of football Neil Dewsip, who has an existing relationship with Rooney having worked at Everton’s academy during the former striker’s rise through the Merseyside club’s youth ranks.

Birmingham were sixth in the Championship standings when Rooney took the reins, but a run of two wins and nine defeats in 15 matches resulted in his dismissal, leaving the Midlands club six points above the drop zone.

The Blues were relegated to League One on the final day of the 2023-24 season, finishing one place behind Plymouth — whose final day win at home to Hull City secured their second-tier status over Birmingham.

Rooney has predominantly worked as pundit since parting ways with Birmingham, making appearances on Sky, TNT Sports and BBC Sport.

Earlier this week it was announced he will be part of the BBC’s live coverage of this summer’s European Championship in Germany.

Rooney began his career in management with Derby County in a temporary player-coach role. He took the position on a permanent basis in January 2021 and guided the club to safety later that season.

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Derby were placed into administration at the start of the 2021-22 campaign, incurring a 21-point penalty that would ultimately see them relegated to League One.

Rooney also spent 15 months at the helm of MLS side D.C. United, but left by mutual consent in October 2023 after they failed to qualify for the play-offs.

(Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)