A former Derby County boss is eyeing a shock management return in Saudi Arabia.
As far as former managers go, Derby County have a long and varied list.
The Rams have welcomed some huge footballing names to their dugout in recent years, and perhaps none more so than Wayne Rooney.
38-year-old Rooney was both a player and a manager for the club, finishing a star-studded 19-year career with the Rams in 2021, featuring 35 times in all competitions for the club and scoring seven.
He eventually hung up his boots to take charge of the club and oversaw 85 games with 24 wins to his name; a 28.2% win rate which is the lowest of any Derby County manager since Nigel Pearson in 2016, as Derby eventually succumbed to relegation under his watch.
Rooney has since had spells with D.C. United and Birmingham City. The latter lasted just 15 games though with Rooney winning only twice, leaving as a very unpopular Blues boss and with his reputation seemingly in tatters.
But the former England and Manchester United hitman reportedly wants a return to management in Saudi Arabia.
According to The Sun, an unnamed, close ally of Rooney’s told said:
“Wayne’s time in charge at Birmingham hasn’t put him off the idea of management. In fact, he believes he learned a lot of skills which he thinks will hold him in good stead in the future.
“Wayne realises he still has a lot to prove, but he believes he has what it takes to be a manager and would love the chance to manage a team in Saudi Arabia. He loved his time managing in America and thinks he could transfer a lot of those skills to the Arabian league.”
This update comes after Rooney recently posted pictures of himself holidaying in Dubai.
Former Derby County boss Wayne Rooney desperate for management success
Credit must go to Rooney for having so much motivation to become a successful manager.
But so far it’s not been a great showing from Rooney in the dugout with none of his three spells as a manager really impressing.
His Derby County tenure was arguably his best as a boss though; he had Derby playing some decent football at times and he managed to avoid relegation in his first season at the club, with many not thinking that the club would.
And at Derby, Rooney was largely hindered by off-field issues with the Rams eventually going into administration and suffering a 21-point deduction in the Championship.
There may yet be a club in Saudi Arabia willing to take a risk on Rooney and it would be a tough place to go and resurrect his management career. But after his spell with Birmingham City, it could be the only place where he could now land a management gig.