Wayne Rooney set for quick return to work after Plymouth Argyle sacking | OneFootball

Rooney looks set for an instant return to the public eye.

Wayne Rooney is set for an immediate return to work after leaving Championship side Plymouth Argyle earlier in the week.

Rooney left Home Park by mutual consent recently, with the Pilgrims rooted to the bottom of the Championship table.

Despite struggling in the dugout once again, Rooney looks set for a return to work almost instantly, although this time, in a return to his previous role as a pundit.

The 39-year-old is already a familiar face on TV screens, having worked for both Sky Sports and ITV prior to taking up the opportunity to manage Plymouth. This time, however, he appears set for a lucrative multi-year deal.

Wayne Rooney looks set to return to punditry

According to the Sun, Rooney is set to become a regular feature on football coverage once again.

After impressing during his previous TV stints, Rooney is likely to be offered a very profitable deal that could tie him down for several years.

A TV spokesperson told the Sun: “Wayne is regarded as one of the best pundits in the business.

“He’s very, very knowledgeable about the game. And even though he’s actually quite a shy person, he really feels at home in a TV studio.

“He’ll be offered punditry work straight away and there’s interest from Sky in a potential long-term deal to tie him down as a pundit.”

The Sun also believes that Rooney still has ambitions of becoming a successful manager, so any potential multi-year deal could well be cut short if another club comes calling, just like when he took the Plymouth job back in May.

Rooney’s managerial career is struggling

While there is still plenty of time for Rooney to carve out a successful career for himself in the dugout, it’s fair to say he’s struggling as a manager at present.

He recorded just four league wins during his time as Pilgrims boss, and although injuries have plagued them of late, he left the club on a run of nine league games without a win.

A 2-0 defeat to fellow Championship strugglers Oxford United on 29th December proved to be the final straw for Rooney, with his time with the Devon side sure to go down as another unsuccessful job on his CV.

The former Manchester United and Everton man did a commendable job on his first foray into management, keeping Derby County in the Championship, before fighting bravely against the club’s 21-point deduction but ultimately tasting relegation the following season.

He returned to the Football League in October 2023, after a short spell in the USA where he took charge of DC United.

Rooney’s return came as part of Birmingham City’s controversial decision to sack John Eustace, with the club sitting inside the play-off places. In 15 games, Rooney managed just two wins and the Blues were relegated at the end of the season.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Rooney will have a hand in a third relegation this season, with Plymouth now four points adrift of safety.

At 39, Rooney’s managerial chance is far from over, but he certainly needs to prove his credentials soon, and for now, time away from the dugout may well be beneficial for him.