Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane did not see eye to eye over one important decision to make after becoming a manager.
Wayne Rooney entered the world of management after he called it time on his legendary playing career in 2021.
The 38-year-old ex-Manchester United striker served as a player-coach for Derby County when he signed in 2020 before becoming manager of the club in 2021.
Rooney left Derby County in 2022 and went on to manage former side DC United before returning to England for an ill-fated spell with Birmingham City.
The England and United legend became Birmingham City head coach in October 2023 before he was sacked from his role in January 2024.
Rooney spent a period on the sideline after his torrid spell at Birmingham City, with the former United star taking up the Plymouth Argyle managerial role in May.
Roy Keane, on the other hand, has been out of the managerial dugout since his ill-fated spell with Ipswich Town came to an end in 2011.
The 52-year-old former United captain has flirted with the decision of returning to management, but Keane has not returned to the dugout as a manager.
Following his managerial spells with Sunderland and Ipswich Town, Keane served as assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
Man Utd legend Rooney makes admission
Speaking on the Stick to Football show, Wayne Rooney opened up about his time as a manager in pre-season and during his spell with Derby County.
The former Manchester United captain admitted that he made the call to take part in an 11 vs 11 match because they “didn’t have enough players” to field at the time.
However, Rooney revealed that he went in for a challenge and former Derby midfielder Jason Knight ended up with an injury that ruled him out for eight weeks.
“I put one of my players out in pre-season,” he said on The Overlap.
“It was Jason Knight, an Irish lad, the most honest player I’ve ever met, a brilliant attitude, would run through brick walls for you.
“So, we’re in the pre-season, for the 11 vs 11, they didn’t have enough players, so I joined in, and as the ball is coming, me and Knighty come in for a tackle, and I put him out – he was out for eight weeks.
“It was just a tackle, like [a] block tackle, but he had done his ankle and he was out for eight weeks.”
Keane reacts to Rooney’s training story
Roy Keane admitted that it is “tempting” to take part in training with the players and the United legend had done it himself when he was younger.
He disagreed with Rooney’s decision to take part in the 11 vs 11 and believed they needed a “young kid” to play or for one team to play with an extra man.
“Yeah, you can’t join in, but it’s tempting when you’re so young,” Keane said.
“I’ve done it, I’ve done it. The boxes aren’t so bad, but if it’s an 11 vs 11, or eight vs eight, you have to get a young kid involved or just play with the extra man.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/9JrOzmX