Fired Birmingham City manager in contact to coach Pompey’s Championship rivals

A Championship club is in talks with an English, Everton, and Manchester United legend.

Wayne Rooney, an England football star, is in talks to become the manager of one of Pompey’s Championship rivals next season.

According to multiple sources, the former Everton and Manchester United star is Plymouth Argyle’s top pick for their next manager. Neil Dewsnip, the Pilgrims’ director of football and interim manager, has been tasked with finding a permanent replacement for former Pompey coach Ian Foster, and Rooney, due to his Toffees ties, is leading the charge.

The 38-year-old hasn’t worked in football management since his dismal stint at Birmingham City. He oversaw 15 games, during which time the Midlands club slipped from play-off contenders to relegation fodder, and they were eventually relegated at the end of the current season.

Rooney is scheduled to feature as a commentator during the BBC’s coverage of Euro 2024. He is also involved in a struggle between Sky Sports and TNT Sports over Premier League broadcast, although a return to the dugout appears to be the most likely scenario if Plymouth can reach an agreement.

Throughout his playing career, Rooney scored 12 goals in 15 appearances against Pompey. He won 12 games against the South Coast outfit, his last being in 2009/10 when he scored in a 5-0 triumph at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who formerly managed Derby County and DC United, has yet to manage against Portsmouth. If he takes over as manager of Plymouth, he will be involved in the Dockland Derby, a rivalry that is more important to folks in Devon than in Hampshire.

Plymouth have gone unbeaten in their past seven games against Pompey, and whether it’s Rooney or someone else in the post, they’ll want to keep that streak going. Pompey’s last victory over Plymouth occurred in September 2018, when they won 3-0 at Fratton Park with goals from Ronan Curtis and Jamal Lowe.