Wayne Rooney Brutally Told His Management Dream Has ‘Died’

Manchester United Legend Urged to Consider New Roles at Old Trafford – Including One Involving Son Kai

For years, Wayne Rooney has been chasing the dream of one day returning to Manchester United — not as a player, but as a manager. The club’s all-time leading goalscorer has never hidden his ambition to take charge at Old Trafford, following in the footsteps of the man who shaped much of his playing career, Sir Alex Ferguson.

But according to his former teammate Danny Simpson, that dream has “died.” Speaking exclusively to GOAL, Simpson delivered a brutally honest verdict on Rooney’s coaching journey so far, while suggesting there could still be a future for him at the club — just not in the role he once imagined.

The good news? There’s still a path back to Manchester for Rooney. And it could even involve his son, Kai Rooney, one of the brightest young prospects in United’s academy.

Rooney’s Managerial Journey: A Tough Ride in England and America

When Rooney hung up his boots in 2021, few doubted that his next step would be in management. A natural leader on the pitch, he was vocal, passionate, and fiercely competitive — all traits that seemed perfectly suited to life in the dugout.

He began his coaching career at Derby County, stepping in during one of the most chaotic periods in the club’s history. With administration issues, transfer bans, and a threadbare squad, Rooney was thrown into the deep end. Yet, against all odds, he nearly pulled off the impossible by keeping them in the Championship. Even though relegation eventually came, his commitment and leadership earned widespread respect.

From there, he made the bold move across the Atlantic to D.C. United in Major League Soccer. Many saw it as a fresh start — a chance to build something new, away from the relentless scrutiny of English football. But results were mixed, and success proved elusive.

His next chapter came at Birmingham City, where he was backed by none other than NFL legend Tom Brady, who had invested in the club. The project was ambitious, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Rooney was appointed mid-season, inheriting a side that had been performing well under previous management. Results quickly dipped, the fans turned restless, and within a few months, he was out of a job.

A short stint at Plymouth Argyle followed in early 2024 — another club hoping his star power could inspire change. But once again, results didn’t come, and by the end of the year, Rooney was out of management altogether.

At 39, the man who once terrorised Premier League defences now finds himself on the outside looking in — a pundit, a father, and a man whose coaching ambitions have taken a bruising.

Simpson’s Honest Take: “As a Manager, I Think That’s Died”

Few people know Rooney better than Danny Simpson, who came through the ranks at Manchester United during Rooney’s peak years. In his interview with GOAL, Simpson didn’t hold back.

“As a manager? Yeah, I think that’s died,” he said bluntly. “The roles that he took were so difficult. He doesn’t get the credit for that, taking teams at difficult moments.”

Simpson wasn’t being cruel — just realistic. He pointed out that Rooney often stepped into jobs where the odds were stacked against him from day one. “The Birmingham one, they were flying, everyone was happy, so he upset the apple cart by going in as manager,” he explained. “But some of the other clubs that he took, they were in difficult moments.”

Yet, despite those challenges, Simpson believes there’s still a place for Rooney at Manchester United — just not in the hot seat.

“You could never say that these players can’t have a role or a place at a club where they’ve done so much,” Simpson added. “Why wouldn’t you, as a striker, want Wayne Rooney coming in? Imagine [Benjamin] Sesko and he’s got Rooney helping him. It’s not a bad shout.”

It’s hard to argue with that. Few players in United’s history have embodied the spirit, aggression, and hunger that Rooney brought to every match. Who better to pass that on to the next generation?

Back to Old Trafford? The Idea of a Coaching Role

Wayne Rooney Manchester United

While the idea of Rooney replacing Erik ten Hag or any future United boss seems far-fetched, a backroom role could be a realistic route back to the club he loves.

Rooney has spoken openly about his connection to United — it’s his footballing home, the place where he became a global icon. Helping to mentor the next wave of talent would not only make sense but could reignite his passion for the game in a new way.

A role working with strikers or academy players could be ideal. Rooney’s understanding of movement, pressing, and finishing — learned through years of battling Premier League defences — would be invaluable to young forwards trying to break through.

Simpson echoed that sentiment:

“If I was a striker and he came in to help me, I’d be annoying him with questions all the time — ‘What do you do in this position? How do you create space there?’ You’d just want to learn everything.”

And maybe that’s exactly what Rooney needs: not the pressure of managing an entire club, but the satisfaction of teaching, mentoring, and influencing the next generation — the way Ferguson once did for him.

Another Rooney at Manchester United: The Rise of Kai

Of course, any story about Rooney’s connection to Old Trafford these days wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Kai Rooney, his eldest son.

Kai, now a teenager, is part of United’s youth academy and has been turning heads with his performances. A left-footed forward with flair, confidence, and a keen eye for goal, Kai looks — and plays — remarkably like his father, though with his own unique touch of style.

Simpson, who has seen Kai play, couldn’t hide his admiration:

“Kai, I’ve seen him play a few times and he looks fantastic — looks just like his dad but obviously left-footed!”

There’s a sense of poetic symmetry here. The idea that Wayne Rooney could one day return to Old Trafford not as the star player or the manager, but as a coach — guiding his son through the same corridors where he became a legend — is almost too good a story for football to resist.

Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future

Kai Rooney Wayne Rooney trophy 2025

Rooney’s journey as a coach hasn’t been easy, but it’s far from over. Football has a way of bringing people back around. Sometimes, the path to success isn’t straight — it loops, twists, and takes you to unexpected places before bringing you home again.

For Rooney, “home” has always been Manchester United. He may never sit in the manager’s chair at Old Trafford, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a profound influence there.

In fact, some of United’s most successful modern-era players have done just that. Michael Carrick cut his teeth as a first-team coach before taking the top job at Middlesbrough. Darren Fletcher moved into youth development. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie have both spent time mentoring young players.

Simpson believes Rooney could follow that blueprint perfectly.

“Any time that you get a chance to bring these ex-players back in, I think you have to,” he said. “Players respect what other players have done in the game. You can be a sponge and take in as much information as you can.”

That respect, that aura — that’s something you can’t buy or teach. It’s earned. And Rooney, more than most, has earned it

The Final Word: A Legend’s Next Chapter
Wayne Rooney’s dream of managing Manchester United may never become reality, but perhaps that’s not the tragedy it sounds like. Maybe his true calling isn’t in tactics or press conferences — but in mentorship, guidance, and legacy.

He’s already inspired millions as a player. Now, he has a chance to do the same for a new generation — maybe even for his own son.

If that’s the next chapter of his story, Old Trafford will surely welcome him back with open arms.