Wayne Rooney has thanked Plymouth Argyle’s fans for “memories that we will share forever” after ending his 25-match reign as manager with the club bottom of the Championship and four points from safety.
Managerial rookie Rooney was under pressure after overseeing a run of one win in 14 matches, including a 2-0 defeat at relegation rivals Oxford United on Sunday that was Argyle’s fourth successive away loss without scoring.
“To the Green Army, thanks for making the games at Home Park so special,” said the 39-year-old, who also praised his coaching staff, club chairman Simon Hallett and director of football Neil Dewsnip.
“They are memories that we will share forever. 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.”
BREAKING: Wayne Rooney mutually agrees to leave Plymouth 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VkVf2toR56
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 31, 2024
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Rooney leaves Plymouth
Rooney, assistant manager Mike Phelan and coach Simon Ireland have left The Pilgrims by mutual consent, with first team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards taking charge for the visit of Bristol City on Wednesday (12.30pm GMT) and Daryl Flahavan continuing as goalkeeping coach.
Former United player Phelan had coached Rooney during his time as Manchester United assistant manager, first under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2008 and 2013, with whom their achievements included three Premier League titles, winning the Carabao Cup twice and two runs to the Champions League final.
Phelan returned to the position between 2018 and 2022, working with managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
Rooney Plymouth record
United’s all-time top scorer described joining Argyle as “the perfect next step in my career” when he was surprisingly given the job in May.
Hallett said Rooney’s “ambitions and aims” were a perfect match for the club, adding that he would provide an “exciting and attacking brand of football that we all like to see and help us achieve the club’s mission”.
Gaffer just fancied a run 🤣
These scenes on the bench are everything! 💚 pic.twitter.com/OtfV1CZyxG
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) November 23, 2024
Steven Schumacher led Plymouth to promotion in 2023 before leaving in December that year to join Stoke City, with his replacement, Ian Foster, taking over for a dismal three-month tenure before an interim managerial team secured safety on the final day of last season.
Starting with a 4-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday as part of a four-game winless run, Argyle have struggled throughout the campaign and never secured consecutive wins under Rooney.
They earned successive home victories over Sunderland and Luton Town in September and beat fourth-tier Cheltenham Town to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup, but have not won since beating Portsmouth 1-0 at home on November 5.
Wayne Rooney departs Plymouth with his side bottom of the Championship table and ultimately not very good at football. pic.twitter.com/KPMK7OtTyy
— Tom Carnduff (@TomCarnduff) December 31, 2024
Rooney managerial record
Plymouth were widely mocked for appointing Rooney after the former England striker played a major role in Birmingham City’s relegation from the Championship in 2023/24.
Birmingham were in the play-off places when Rooney was installed in October 2023 but were forced to sack him following a run of nine defeats in 15 games that City were unable to recover from, with Plymouth among the clubs to stay up at their expense.
Rooney left DC United to join City, having failed to guide the club to the MLS play-offs during a 15-month stay in Washington.
His first managerial role was arguably his most successful, steering Derby County to Championship safety in 2020/21 at a time of financial troubles for the Rams.
Evertonian Rooney left Derby, who had been relegated a month earlier and docked a total of 21 points that season for financial issues, in June 2022.
