Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United and England legend, could be set for a surprising return to management. Reports suggest he's being considered as Robbie Savage's successor at National League North side Macclesfield. This comes after a somewhat turbulent period in Rooney's coaching career, marked by spells at Derby, D.C. United, Birmingham, and most recently, Plymouth.
Rooney's Coaching Journey: A Mixed Bag
Rooney's managerial stints haven't exactly been smooth sailing. He managed just 25 games at Plymouth, securing only five wins. His time at Birmingham, alongside NFL icon Tom Brady, was particularly short-lived, lasting a mere 83 days. Despite these challenges, the 39-year-old may be ready to step back into the dugout.
Macclesfield's Rise: A Club on the Up
According to reports in The Sun, Macclesfield has Rooney on their radar. The club is currently undergoing a rebuild after being liquidated as Macclesfield Town in 2020. Their resurgence culminated in a remarkable North Premier League title victory last season, amassing over 100 points.
Robbie Savage, the former Wales international and Manchester United academy graduate, currently manages Macclesfield. However, he's reportedly being considered for a new role at Forest Green Rovers, potentially opening the door for Rooney.
Macclesfield FC celebrated their Northern Premier League victory on X (formerly Twitter):
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐤𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 🤩
— Macclesfield FC (C) (@thesilkmen) March 22, 2025
Macclesfield FC, 2024/25 Northern Premier League 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vAo9CuVbI8
What Lies Ahead for Rooney?
The prospect of managing Macclesfield could be appealing to Rooney. It would allow him to remain close to his family home in Cheshire. However, he has also expressed contentment with his current punditry work, featuring prominently in coverage from Amazon Prime and BBC Sport. The decision ultimately rests on Rooney's ambitions and Macclesfield's formal approach.
The National League North presents a different challenge to the Premier League or even the Championship. It's a proving ground where managers can hone their skills and build a reputation. For Rooney, it could be a chance to rebuild his managerial career and demonstrate his tactical acumen in a new environment. The lower leagues often demand a different style of management, focusing on player development and tactical flexibility with limited resources. Rooney's experience as a player, coupled with his previous managerial roles, could equip him well for this challenge.
Whether Rooney decides to take the Macclesfield job or continues with his punditry work remains to be seen. However, the link suggests that he is still keen to be involved in the game and is considering his options carefully. The coming weeks and months will likely reveal more about Rooney's future plans and whether he will indeed be taking on a new challenge in the National League North.
South African football fans will be watching closely, as Rooney's profile and global appeal could bring added attention to the National League North and English football in general. His involvement would undoubtedly be a significant boost for Macclesfield, both on and off the pitch.