"Big club" - Teddy Sheringham issues Wayne Rooney, Plymouth Argyle message | OneFootball

Teddy Sheringham has given his verdict on Wayne Rooney’s appointment as Plymouth Argyle’s latest manager.

Ian Foster was dismissed from the role in April with the Pilgrims in danger of relegation straight back to League One.

However, the team survived on the final day with a win over Hull City, coming 21st in the table by just one point.

Rooney was officially confirmed as Foster’s permanent replacement in May, with the former striker making a swift return to the Championship after his stint at Birmingham City ended in January.

The 38-year-old will be hoping this role survives longer than the 15 games he oversaw during his failed time at St. Andrew’s, which lasted just 83 days.

Sheringham gives Rooney to Plymouth verdict

Sheringham believes that the opportunity to manage Plymouth is a great one for Rooney, especially so soon after his time at Birmingham.

While he is wary of the new Pilgrims boss’ previous record, he has commended Rooney for continuing his ambition to break into management.

“I think Plymouth is another great job for Wayne Rooney because not a lot of jobs come around,” said Sheringham via Genting Casino.

“He's not got the best credentials at the moment, but he wants to keep trying.

“He loves the game and obviously, he wants to test himself and get back to winning ways and climbing up the ladder.

“Hopefully, he's learned what has gone wrong in the past and I wish him all the luck because it’s a very tough career as a manager.

“It's tough down there, especially at the lower levels but Plymouth are a big club down there.”

Rooney’s other managerial experience in the Championship came from working with Derby County from November 2020 to June 2022.

The former striker’s time at the Rams was marred by difficulty behind the scenes, making it quite difficult to judge.

He departed Pride Park following the club’s relegation to League One, with the team having been docked 21 points by the EFL that campaign.

Plymouth’s hopes for next season

Plymouth will be hoping to remain in the Championship beyond another year after securing a second season in the division.

Rooney will have the upcoming summer transfer window to make improvements to the first team squad in order to help aid that ambition.

The Pilgrims earned promotion under Steven Schumacher in 2023, winning the League One title on the way, which saw them return to the Championship for the first time since 2010.

However, a 1-0 win over Hull was needed on the final day to secure their place in the second tier beyond just one campaign.

Rooney appointment is a risk for Plymouth

It is difficult to look at how things went for Rooney and Birmingham and think it will be any different at Home Park.

He lasted just 15 games in charge, winning only twice, and really struggled to compete at this level.

Plymouth have taken a big risk on Rooney, and will be in danger of relegation to League One next year if it doesn’t pay off.

Perhaps the environment at St. Andrew’s brought out the worst in Rooney as a manager, and a change in scenery will be good for him, but it is a big risk to bank on that being the case.