Wayne Rooney’s tenure as Plymouth Argyle manager has come to an end after just seven months, with the club announcing a mutual agreement to part ways. The former England and Manchester United star departs following a challenging season that sees Plymouth rooted to the bottom of the Championship table.
Rooney, who joined Plymouth in May on a three-year contract, struggled to turn the team’s fortunes around. A winless streak of nine games, including six defeats, left the club four points adrift of safety. Back-to-back losses over Christmas against Coventry and Oxford United proved decisive, prompting the board to act ahead of Plymouth’s New Year’s Day fixture against Bristol City.
In a statement on the club’s website, Rooney expressed gratitude for his time at Plymouth:
“I want to thank the board, particularly Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip, for their support and the players, staff, and fans for their efforts during my time here. To the Green Army, you’ve made Home Park a special place, and those memories will stay with me forever. I wish Plymouth Argyle every success in the future.”
First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will take temporary charge of the squad. However, Rooney’s departure raises questions about his managerial future. This marks his third short-lived tenure in a row, following his exit from Birmingham in January 2024 and a mutual parting with DC United in October 2023. His managerial career began with Derby County in 2020, where he faced challenges including relegation after the club went into administration.
