Just over five months on from his dismissal by Plymouth Argyle on New Year's Eve, Rooney still harbours ambitions of returning to football management. He has held three different head coach roles at EFL clubs since 2020, plus a stint in charge of D.C. United, but the 39-year-old has insisted he isn't precious about building up more experience in a lower profile role for his next job.
"I'd have no problem dropping into an Under-21 team or going in as [assistant] coach," Rooney told the Stick to Football podcast in April. "I'm still young enough to learn and develop. Just having a good group of players who were at a [good] level."