Wayne Rooney was relieved of his duties at Plymouth on New Year’s Eve, with the Devon team cut two points adrift at the bottom of the Championship table at the halfway point of the campaign. The Manchester United and England hero guided the Pilgrims to just four league victories in 23 attempts, with relegation to League One on the horizon if the club can’t turn their fortunes around quickly.
Rooney lasted just seven months in the hotseat at Home Park after being appointed as Plymouth boss at the end of May.
And Express Sport takes a look at the five options Rooney may be keen to explore for his next role.
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Boss in League One
Rooney has harmed his reputation as a manager during ill-fated spells with Birmingham and Plymouth over the last 14 months and may not be given the opportunity to manage in the Championship again until he can prove himself at a lower level.
The 39-year-old may therefore have to accept a role in League One, where he will be under slightly less scrutiny and may be given a longer period to find a process that works.
Boss in Saudi Pro League
Rooney may decide to get away from England and experience life in another country for a few years.
There will surely be a club in the Saudi Pro League who would be willing to offer him a huge pay packet to get him to the Middle East. Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard is currently out there managing El-Ettifaq and could put his former international team-mate in contact with the right people to start the ball rolling.
England coaching role
If Rooney wants to step away from the demands of club football, he could attempt to get a role as an England coach.
The former striker bagged 53 goals in 120 appearances for the Three Lions during his playing days and has plenty of knowledge to offer England’s current crop of players.
Pundit for Sky Sports/BBC
Plenty of ex-players have turned their back on management to work as pundits, with the likes of Alan Shearer and Gary Neville opting to swap the touchline for the television studio.
Rooney has appeared on Sky Sport and the BBC to offer his expert thoughts in the past and would be welcomed back with open arms if he wanted to return to either channel.
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Reality TV star
Rooney may want to take a break from football altogether for the time being and could decide to follow his wife Coleen into reality TV. Mrs Rooney finished second on I’m a Celebrity last month and her husband revealed he would also consider featuring on the show if he isn’t working.
“We always said that if we were ever going to do one, that's the one we'd do,” the blockbuster football star said on I'm A Celebrity Unpacked. “And obviously Coleen's gone out there to test herself.
“Maybe [I would go on] if I'm not working - it's something I would like to do. But at the minute, obviously, that's not possible.”
