Wayne Rooney landed Plymouth job after answering one non-football question

Plymouth director of football Neil Dewsnip has opened up on why his side appointed Wayne Rooney as their manager this summer, citing his people skills as a key reason why he cruised through the interviewing stage.

The 38-year-old has endured a tricky few years on the touchline, struggling to get the very best out of his D.C. United squad in 2023 and being sacked after 15 matches as Birmingham City manager, winning just two matches with the club.

Rooney is keen to get his management career back on track and is hopeful that he can breathe a new lease of life into Plymouth Argyle following their 21st-place finish last season. The higher powers at the Home Park Stadium are pleased with the appointment, with Dewsnip recently opening up on why the club appointed the ex-Manchester United star.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained: “This is a coup — it isn’t a gamble. We have done our research and Wayne was selected after a thorough process as the best candidate.

“He was asked during his interview in May about relationships and dealing with staff. The chairman asked him what members of staff he knew at Derby outside the football set-up, and straightaway he told him the name of a groundsman and the laundry lady.

‘He’s got great people skills and that’s important to us.

“The squad have taken to him incredibly well. They obviously respect him for what he was as a player, one of the best three of his generation — you don’t need me to say the names of the other two.

“But respect has to be earned as a coach and his way of doing that is to show his great personal qualities. He is an excellent communicator, brilliant in one-to-one situations. I don’t think he’s realised yet how powerful he is with his words.”