“I’m a fighter” — Wayne Rooney refuses to give up on his dream

Wayne Rooney, despite enduring a tumultuous tenure at Birmingham City, remains resolute in his aspirations to succeed in football management, identifying two significant roles he aims to undertake in the future.

The 38-year-old, who has previously managed Derby County, DC United, and Birmingham City with varying degrees of success, was appointed as manager at Birmingham last October, replacing John Eustace.

However, his stint lasted a mere 15 games before he was dismissed in January following just two victories.

Nevertheless, Rooney’s determination to become a top-class manager remains undeterred by his disappointing spell at St Andrew’s.

During his appearance as a pundit on the BBC’s coverage of Manchester United’s FA Cup victory over Nottingham Forest, Rooney reaffirmed his desire to return to management.

“Yeah, I definitely want to get back into it,” Rooney stated to the BBC.

“Obviously it’s a setback, of course, what happened at Birmingham City. But I’m a fighter, I want to get back into it.

“I’ve enjoyed my time, a few months out with my children, go and watch them play their games, school runs and stuff.

“As a manager, setbacks are part of the job. Many top managers around world football have faced various roles and encountered setbacks. It’s about how you bounce back. It’s been a good time for me to reflect and ensure I get it right next time.”

In a lighthearted exchange, BBC host Gary Lineker suggested the managerial position at Manchester United, currently held by Erik ten Hag, could be a target for Rooney upon his return to football.

Responding earnestly, Rooney remarked,

“That’s the aim, that’s where I want to get to. Obviously United or Everton, these big jobs. You want to try and do them.

“It’s a process, and I’ve got to go through the steps of getting back on track, back into management, and in the next 10 years, I’m in a position where I can go into one of the big jobs.”