Interview with Wayne Rooney

Sitting down with The Overlap, Wayne Rooney, a name synonymous with English football, offered a candid and captivating insight into his storied career, his challenging journey into management, and the evolving landscape of the beautiful game. From tales of tactical shifts on the pitch to the complex dynamics of modern dressing rooms, Rooney peeled back the layers, revealing a thoughtful and driven individual still very much dedicated to football.

The Striker's Evolution: More Than Just Goals

Jamie Carragher wasted no time in declaring Rooney "the best center forward I ever played with Manchester United," a high compliment from a former rival and teammate. Yet, Rooney's own reflection revealed a surprising humility. He confessed, "I wouldn't say I was a natural goalscorer," viewing himself more as a player who simply loved being on the ball and contributing to the team's success. This unselfishness often meant adapting his role, playing wide to accommodate talents like Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. "If I play outward," he explained, "I would do my job I would get back and help out defensively where Cristiano probably wouldn't do it." It was this team-first ethos that defined his playing career, prioritizing collective victory over individual statistics.

This commitment extended even to a controversial moment in 2010 when Rooney submitted a transfer request. He clarified that it wasn't a desire to leave United, but a demand for answers about the club's direction. Seeing star players like Tevez and Ronaldo depart, he sought assurances: "I didn't have the time personally so I had to ask that I felt it was important to ask the question is it going to be a three four year transition or is it going to be we're going to win trophies now." This proactive approach highlighted his deep-seated desire for competitive success and an early recognition of the club's changing commercial focus, a concern Roy Keane had voiced years prior.

Key Insights:

• Rooney saw himself as a versatile footballer who enjoyed playmaking, not just a goalscorer.
• He willingly sacrificed individual glory (like playing out wide) for the team's defensive and attacking balance.
• His 2010 transfer request was a direct challenge to the club about its ambition and direction, revealing a proactive and demanding leader.
• The 2008 front three with Ronaldo and Tevez represented the pinnacle of his playing experience, a period where the team felt "unstoppable."

Taking the Management Helm: A Steep Learning Curve

Despite a challenging start to his managerial career, including a short-lived tenure at Birmingham, Rooney’s drive to return to the dugout is palpable. He candidly reflected on his choices, admitting he’s taken on "decisions which will really push me and challenge me," referencing Derby (under administration), DC United (bottom of the league), and Birmingham (where he felt "judged unfairly" from day one, inheriting a team in a "false position"). His biggest disappointment at Birmingham wasn't the sacking itself, but the failure of promised player recruitment. "To not let me get the players in January that was disappointing," he revealed, as it went against the initial long-term plan discussed with the owners.

These experiences have forged crucial lessons. For his next role, Rooney plans to be "a bit more commanding... more demanding and ruthless" with club owners, emphasizing the importance of bringing in trusted staff. Tactically, he's evolving, moving beyond the direct play of his own playing days. He speaks of a 2-3-5 formation, a high defensive line, and a goalkeeper as a playmaker, a style "influenced by Pep." He's still only 38 but carries the weight of three managerial jobs, and he’s clear that his next move needs to be "at the start of a season" to properly implement his vision.

Key Learnings:

• Embracing challenging managerial roles, even at lower league levels, to gain experience.
• The critical importance of clear communication and being "commanding" with owners, especially regarding player recruitment.
• Developing a distinct tactical philosophy (2-3-5, playmaking goalkeeper) despite his own playing style.
• Recognizing the need for a full pre-season to truly embed his system and players.

Culture Clash: United After Sir Alex

The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United was a significant topic, with Rooney painting a vivid picture of a club in flux. He likened Ferguson's departure to "the dad had left the house and the stepdad was coming in," highlighting David Moyes' struggle to gain acceptance from a dressing room still reeling from the change. Rooney observed a shift in player behaviour, recalling how "Lads are coming in dancing the next day around the dressing room with the hip-hop music on" after a defeat, a stark contrast to the old guard's intensity.

Louis van Gaal, while "tactically the best I've worked with," brought his own brand of strictness. Off-pitch, his methods were "difficult," involving mandatory 90-minute video sessions after training, a rigid mealtime routine where "each table goes up at a time and then the staff table goes up last," culminating in a speech from the manager every day. This regimented approach, while demonstrating a meticulous mind, ultimately caused friction. Rooney expressed frustration with the changing player mentality, noting "too many times now you see with players who who were not willing to do that," advocating for an "old school" honesty and willingness to work. This changing dynamic, combined with the club's increasing focus on commercialism over core football principles, contributed to the challenges faced by United in the years that followed Ferguson's reign.

Key Changes:

• A palpable erosion of dressing room respect and intensity after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
• Managers like David Moyes struggled to gain acceptance from players used to a different regime.
• Louis van Gaal implemented an extremely disciplined, almost militaristic, off-pitch routine that challenged player patience.
• The professional football landscape saw a shift in player commitment and the club's focus, moving more towards commercial interests.

"I'm right at the bottom from manger feel I want to work me way up that's I'm not relying on what I done as a player to to to get me into places where I shouldn't be" - Wayne Rooney