Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney is reportedly being lined up to become Macclesfield's new manager with Robbie Savage set to step down
Man United legend Wayne Rooney in action for England during Soccer Aid
Man United legend Wayne Rooney could reportedly become the new manager of Macclesfield Town
(Image: PA)
Wayne Rooney is reportedly being lined up for a new role in management.
The former Manchester United captain left Plymouth Argyle in December after managing to secure only four victories in his first 23 Championship matches. Rooney departed with the team languishing at the bottom of English football'ssecond tier following a string of five losses in six games.
It marked Rooney's second high-profile failure after a similarly disappointing stint at Birmingham City. The ex-England international has recently been working as a pundit in the media, but new reports claim that he could be set for a return to management.
Journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that Macclesfield want Rooney to take over from Robbie Savage. However, it is said that the Reds legend may not be easy to persuade.
Savage is reportedly leaving the club he co-founded to join Forest Green Rovers and is believed to have recommended Rooney. Macclesfield have built up a groundswell of support since reforming the club from the ashes of Macclesfield Town and Rooney would attract more fans and also create huge interest.
Rooney reiterated his desire in January to return to the touchline, despite struggling in his two most recent roles.
"I would like to go back in [to management]," he said on the Stick to Football podcast, to the surprise of former United team-mate Gary Neville. "But it would have to be the right club. Certainly the right club."
Neville's immediate response was to ask United's all-time top scorer if he was "alright," suggesting Rooney must be mad to have not been put off coaching. But the retired forward's hunger to make an impact in this side of the sport hasn't wilted just yet.
Rooney continued: "I think you always have that ego, don't you? You always have that confidence you could go in and get the best out of a bad or difficult situation. Obviously, that wasn't the case [at Plymouth]. I am going to enjoy time with my family, though."
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