Soccer

A look at Wayne Rooney’s managerial record following Plymouth departure

The 39-year-old has previously had spells at Derby, DC United and Birmingham.

Wayne Rooney has left Plymouth after 25 games as head coach
Wayne Rooney has left Plymouth after 25 games as head coach (Adam Davy/PA)
By Tom White, PA Sport Data Journalist

Wayne Rooney is out of work after leaving Plymouth with the club bottom of the Championship table.

The former England striker headed into the job with a 26 per cent win rate for his managerial career, which fell still further with just five wins in 25 games as Argyle boss.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the 39-year-old’s record in detail.

Derby

Rooney’s first job came in difficult circumstances with Derby
Rooney’s first job came in difficult circumstances with Derby (Martin Rickett/PA)

Rooney moved from his playing role at Derby into the manager’s seat in November 2020, initially sharing the job with Liam Rosenior, Shay Given and Justin Walker.

They climbed from the bottom of the Championship to 18th, eight points clear of the relegation zone, before a late-season slump saw them survive by just a point.

Their relegation the following season came after a total of 21 points were deducted for financial breaches including entering administration. They rallied with three successive wins in December 2021 and 10 in their final 25 games and without the deductions would have finished 17th on 55 points.

Rooney won 24, drew 22 and lost 39 of his 85 games, including those with the managerial group in charge, for a creditable 28.2 per cent win rate in the circumstances.

DC United

Appointed by another of his former clubs in July 2022, Rooney was unable to make his mark as a head coach in Major League Soccer.

His side were mathematically eliminated from play-off contention in 2023 despite the win over New York City on October 8 that marked the end of Rooney’s reign.

His “mutually agreed” departure came with him having been boss for the whole of that season and the last 15 matches of 2022.

His final record in all competitions read won 14, drew 14, lost 26.

Birmingham

Rooney was appointed as boss of Birmingham – who were taken over by United States-based Shelby Companies Limited in July last year with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady becoming a minority owner the following month – in October 2023, two days on from the sacking of John Eustace while sixth in the Championship.

He spoke of the goal of promotion but defeat in his first match, 1-0 at Middlesbrough, set the tone and another 14 games later he departed with the team languishing in 20th place.

Blues registered victories in only two of Rooney’s 15 matches, with nine losses, for a win percentage of 13.3. The club were eventually relegated at the end of the season.

Plymouth

Rooney lasted just half a season in Devon
Rooney lasted just half a season in Devon (Ian Hodgson/PA)

Having lost one job on the second day of 2024, Rooney left another on its final day as Argyle’s patience ran out.

Appointed in May, he started the new season with a 4-0 hammering against Sheffield Wednesday, and the only win in his first six games came against League Two Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup.

Things barely improved from there, as he never managed consecutive wins and took just three points from his last nine games in charge before that winless run saw his employment ended – again by mutual agreement.

Plymouth prop up the Championship with 18 points from 23 games, with Rooney’s overall managerial record now reading won 45, drawn 46, lost 88 for a win rate of barely 25 per cent. His last two jobs have seen him manage only 40 matches in total.