New Delhi: Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney’s 2024 has come to an end in the worst way possible for a manager as he decided to part ways with Plymouth Argyle. The 39-year-old had been in charge of Plymouth since joining the club in May 2024 but saw his side struggle for the most part of his tenure. His reign got off to the worst start possible as just in his first game in charge, his side was battered 4-0 away to Sheffield Wednesday.
Things didn’t improve from there on as he could only muster his side to four wins in his 23 games in charge, losing a whopping 13 of them. This record let them to the bottom of the Championship table, leaving them four points off safety and embroiled in a tough relegation battle. Half of it is down to the club’s terrible recent form, having only won one game in the last 14 that they played.
Plymouth Argyle have parted ways with head coach Wayne Rooney. pic.twitter.com/wAJwkUssOx
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 31, 2024
This led to the former England International reaching a mutual decision with the club to end his time as the head coach with immediate effect. The club confirmed the news in an official statement on their website, which also said, “Departing the club with Rooney will be assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Simon Ireland.” While the club will start their search for Rooney’s successor, first team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will lead the squad for their New Year’s day clash against Bristol City.
Worst defense in the EFL Championship in over 20 years
Plymouth Argyle since October 1:
– Record: LWLLDLWDDLLLLDLL 🫠
– Goals scored: 14 ⚽️
– Goals conceded: 40 🥶
– Last in EFL Championship 📉
Wayne Rooney’s side have had a tough go of it 😐 pic.twitter.com/jQCwpguSAl
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 29, 2024
One of the biggest reasons for Rooney’s struggles with the Pilgrims comes down to their leaky defense this season. Having conceded a mind boggling 51 goals in just 22 league games this season, the club have the worst defense in the league. Not only is this the worst defense this year, this also marks the worst ever defensive record after 23 games since England’s second-tier rebranded over 20 years ago.
Rooney’s final game in charge proved to be a 2-0 defeat away to Oxford United but his two previous games before that came against former teammates which added to the defensive woes. Rooney first faced off against for Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick’s Middlesborough side and only managed a 3-3 draw before facing former England teammate Frank Lampard, whose Coventry City side thrashed him 4-0. His time at Plymouth marks another disappointing management spell for the English great.
Since retiring from playing in 2021, Rooney ventured straight into management with his last club, Derby County, but oversaw the club’s relegation to League one. He then moved to another former club in DC United, but that spell didn’t prove too fruitful as well but his spells with both Plymouth and Birmingham City are the ones that really hurt his reputation as a manager. Rooney oversaw the relegation of Birmingham to League one, their first since 1995 with the fans and media blaming him for the relegation and if Plymouth end up getting relegated as well, he’d have played a part in three relegations from the Championship, effectively ending his career in England’s second tier.
The former striker was announced as the head coach of the club only in May of this year and leaves The Pilgrims after just one win in the last 14 games saw them reeling at the bottom of the championship table. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
