Wayne Rooney urges more English managers to stop being ‘stubborn’ and consider moves abroad

Wayne Rooney has urged more English managers to stop being ‘stubborn’ consider jobs abroad in order to get better and develop themselves as coaches. 

The former Manchester United and Everton striker is currently coaching in the MLS with DC United after leaving Derby County in the summer following their relegation from the Championship to League One.

Rooney did a good job at Pride Park, but could not help the team remain in England’s second division as a points deduction after the club went into administration left them fighting an uphill battle.

Wayne Rooney was appointed as the manager of DC United after leaving Derby County

But instead of staying on at Derby or taking a new job in England, Rooney shocked people by moving across the Atlantic Ocean for his second job in management.

While admitting it is a ‘gamble’ the 36-year-old believes that it will give him a chance to improve his coaching and thinks others should do the same, suggesting that coaches in England can be too ‘stubborn’ to look elsewhere for work.

He told The Times: ‘It’s a chance to take myself out of my comfort zone and develop as a coach.

‘I could have sat at home and waited — managers get sacked, normally, around this time and jobs would have come up, but I think in England we have the best league in the world and a great structure below it and we’re a bit stubborn.

The ex-England striker wants to see more English managers take chances and move abroad

‘Not enough managers take that risk and challenge themselves by going abroad. Too many just wait to see what comes up in England.

‘To go abroad is a gamble but I believe in myself and you could say “what is a safe option?” Whatever club you go to, as a manager, your job’s not safe. I just thought this is a way of furthering my education.

‘Yeah, I played at the top but you go back to square one, and I’m at the start of my coaching career and you have to put the work in to get to where you want to go. I want to learn, get better, develop.’

Rooney spoke to Graham Potter (pictured), who previously coached in Sweden at Ostersunds

Rooney also pointed to new Chelsea manager Graham Potter as a prime example of how coaching abroad can help build ideas as a manager as he revealed that he spoke to him about club management.

He said: ‘I spoke to Graham last year. I had a few hours with him on Zoom and he went through his journey with me. He was good, interesting. He was sharing his ideas and I was sharing my ideas of how I work.

‘It’s good to bounce ideas off another coach — I’ve done similar with Gareth Southgate and a few others.

Jose Mourinho has managed in four different countries throughout Europe in his career

‘You look at Graham, or Arsène Wenger who went to Asia. [José] Mourinho has been in different places. Fergie started with small clubs in Scotland. Patrick Vieira managed over here (at New York City FC) and went to France.

‘Everyone has a different pathway but they all did what they did to educate themselves and better themselves. Sometimes as a manager you just take the job that’s there, and work your way from there.

‘You look at Klopp — he is so engaged and emotionally in tune with his players.’

Rooney signed former Crystal Palace and Liverpool striker to strengthen his DC United team

Rooney only had 18 days out of work after leaving Derby before joining DC United. He has not gotten off to the dream start as the club are still bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference after winning two of his 11 games in charge.

He said: ‘I’m rebuilding a club, rebuilding a squad and a big attraction is working with different nationalities, not just of players but staff.

‘My ambition one day is to manage at the top and that (a multinational environment) is what you get at top clubs.

‘I looked and thought it’s a great chance to experience it.’