Wayne Rooney’s time at Plymouth has come to an end after only seven months, with the Championship club announcing they have “mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect” with the former Manchester United and England forward.
Rooney was appointed by Plymouth in May on a three-year contract but has departed after ending the year with his side bottom and four points from the last safe spot at the halfway stage of the season after a winless run of nine games that included six defeats. That run culminated in two successive away defeats at Coventry and Oxford over Christmas and Plymouth’s board decided to act before the visit of Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Kevin Nancekivell, the first-team coach, and the club captain, Joe Edwards, will now take temporary charge.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with,” Rooney said in a statement on Plymouth’s website.
“Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future.
“To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever. I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support. 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.”
Rooney’s latest failure brings into question whether he will return to coaching in the future. He was sacked from his previous post at Birmingham on 2 January after less than three months, having left DC United by mutual consent in October 2023. England’s former record goalscorer began his managerial career at Derby in November 2020 but resigned in June 2022 after they had been relegated to League One having been deducted 21 points for going into administration.
