Wayne Rooney says his top objective in management is becoming Manchester United boss.
Rooney has earned high acclaim as Derby County boss this season and was linked with the Everton job after Rafa Benitez was sacked in January.
The Red Devils all-time leading goalscorer wanted to see the Derby job through, and also was not as interested in the Toffees job because the Manchester United job is his dream.
Speaking to The Sun, Rooney outlined his vision, “The whole reason in me going into management is Manchester United. I got offered the job interview for the Everton job.
“I want to be Manchester United manager. I know I am not ready now but I have to plan everything I do to make sure one day it will happen.”
In the future
United current have a vacancy in the dugout, but Rooney is not in the frame. Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are considered the favourites.
Rooney knows he has to earn the right to manage United, and not simply be given the role based on reputation.
This will mean proving himself elsewhere in management beyond at Derby, and winning silverware, to convince United he has the right credentials.
Having tried the ‘club legend’ approach with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and failed to win trophies, United supporters want a more experienced boss, rather than trying the same approach again.
Rooney’s Derby have had it tough this season, dealing with a points deduction and restrictions on buying players.
Despite these hardships, Rooney’s Derby are still in the fight to avoid relegation and a strong end to the season can see them climb out of the bottom spots. Even if it does not work out, Rooney has done a tremendous job just to get them in the mix.
If Rooney does one day get the United job, there is a possibility he could end up managing his son at Old Trafford.
Kai Rooney plays for the club’s academy teams and hopes to go onto earn a professional contract with the club in the future.