Ex-Derby County boss Wayne Rooney did not exactly have to successful of a spell at Pride Park.
The former England captain joined Derby as a player in 2020 but was promoted to manager after one season in January 2021.
Wayne Rooney helped Derby to Championship survival in his first season but couldn’t save the Rams in his second year as they were relegated to League One after receiving a 21-point deduction from the EFL.
Since then, the former Manchester United striker has managed DC United and Birmingham City and is now the new boss at Plymouth Argyle.
He has also been working as a pundit over the summer and revealed an intriguing story about his time as Derby’s manager.
Wayne Rooney recalls injuring Jason Knight during pre-season
The Ex-Derby boss recently appeared on Sky Sports’ Stick to Football podcast, where he revealed that he caused midfielder Jason Knight an injury during pre-season.
Rooney admitted to joining in during one of the Rams’ training exercises and tackling Knight, which kept the Irishman on Derby’s sidelines for eight weeks.
He said: “I had to pull someone out of the 11 vs 11 so I joined in. As the ball was coming, me and Knighty [Jason Knight] were going in for a tackle and I put him out.
“It was just a block tackle, but he did his ankle and was out for eight weeks.”
Rooney to make Pride Park return this season
Thanks to Derby County’s promotion from League One, they will face the 38-year-old in the Championship this season.
Rooney became Plymouth Argyle manager in May and will visit Pride Park on Saturday 9 November alongside ex-Derby winger Morgan Whittaker who will make a return to face Derby – his former team.
He signed a three-year contract at Home Park hoping to revitalize his managerial reputation after consecutive sackings from DC United and Birmingham City.