ROO THE DAY
Plymouth statement in full as Wayne Rooney AXED on New Year’s Eve and Man Utd legend’s manager career in ruin
Argyle have scored the fewest and conceded the most goals in the league
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE have released a statement confirming Wayne Rooney has been axed.
The Manchester United and England legend has departed as manager with the Pilgrims bottom of the Championship.
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The club announced the news in a statement, which : "Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and head coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.
"Departing the club with Rooney will be assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Simon Ireland.
"First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will lead the team for our Championship match against Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Daryl Flahavan will continue as goalkeeping coach.
"We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.
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"The club will be making no further comment at this stage with updates on our new first team management staff in due course."
Rooney said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with.
“Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future.
“To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.
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“I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support.
“Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.”
Wayne Rooney furious after Plymouth Argyle loss to Norwich
A shocking nine-match run without a win ended Rooney's time at the Pilgrims.
The 39-year-old guided the club to just four victories from 23 games in the league.
They conceded more goals (51) and scored the fewest (22) in the division.
Argyle are four points adrift from Championship safety.
Wayne Rooney's record-breaking career
WAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.
He quickly became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club's all-time leading goalscorer.
Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.
As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England's second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.
After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.
He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.
However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.
Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.
Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.
However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.
He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.
Rooney has now left his fourth job in four years.
He begun at Derby County and managed to save them from relegation to the third tier in the 2020/21 campaign.
But following a huge 21-point deduction due to administration, they went down the following season.
Rooney then moved to the US and took over a struggling DC United.
After a promising start, he was unable to guide them into the play-offs and he mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the 2023 season.
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He then returned to the Championship with Birmingham but had a nightmare, lasting just 15 games before being sacked.
Rooney then penned a three-year deal with Argyle in May, but he has been unable to take the team tipped for relegation away from the drop zone.
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