Former Everton footballer Wayne Rooney acknowledges the fans during a lap of honour following the Premier League match between Everton FC and Southampton FC at Goodison Park on May 18, 2025 in Liverpool, England. Goodison Park, home of Everton Football Club since August 24, 1892, will play host to its final Men's First Team fixture today ahead of the clubs move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the 2025/26 season.placeholder image
Former Everton footballer Wayne Rooney acknowledges the fans during a lap of honour following the Premier League match between Everton FC and Southampton FC at Goodison Park on May 18, 2025 in Liverpool, England. Goodison Park, home of Everton Football Club since August 24, 1892, will play host to its final Men's First Team fixture today ahead of the clubs move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the 2025/26 season. | Getty Images
Wayne Rooney’s managerial career has yet to really take off, but would the Man Utd great take the England job?
Wayne Rooney would still turn up and play for England now if Thomas Tuchel called him up to the international squad such was his desire to lead his country to success.
With 53 goals in 120 appearances, the Manchester United legend more than played his part wherever he was played by whatever manager was in charge. Injury and an infamous red card ruined two tournaments when it looked like he was on course to lead England to glory.
A fledgling managerial career has yet to properly take off with a move into punditry looking like it could now be a more permanent vocation. Rooney has tipped United to perform better this season but with the international break in full flow, his thoughts turned to all things England.
Would Wayne Rooney take the England job?
Speaking on his own The Wayne Rooney podcast on BBC Sport, the former United striker has been talking about England and, in particular, whether or not he would one day consider taking charge: “No. Listen, to be England manager, you're getting the best, like some top, top players. So, you're in a privileged position and you've got a lot of things going for you in terms of the players will know how to play whatever position you put them in.
“But yeah, it's, it's tough. It's World Cup, European Championships. You look at the climate, you look at what players are fit and what players are in form. It's a very difficult, I imagine it's a very difficult job to do. And like, how do you get that connection with? I don't think I had, Roy Hodgson was probably the only manager who, on a personal level, I had any sort of like connection outside of when we met up.”
Would Rooney be a good fit for England?
England have had several managers known for being tactical ‘geniuses’ or more tactical minded at least, and yet, in recent times, their most successful manager has been one who largely failed at club level but was able to harness a togetherness in the squad when it came to major tournaments.
Current managers from the ‘Golden generation’ like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard might not ever win the Champions League at club level, in fact, it looks a nailed on certainty, but what they all have, like Southgate, is a presence about them and the ability to command respect. There is no formula that guarantees success at international level when you consider Rooney’s comments about how little time managers have to work with players.
There is no shortage of talent in the current England squad, but are they inspired? With the right coaching team behind him, could Rooney, Lampard or Gerrard replicate the achievements of Southgate? Nobody thought Southgate would ever be the England manager, so it can’t be ruled out.
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