Wayne Rooney leaves Plymouth after just seven months in charge

NEW DELHI: Wayne Rooney has stepped down as Plymouth's manager on Tuesday after a brief seven-month tenure, with the Championship club currently at the bottom of the table.
Plymouth's recent performance under Rooney has been poor, with only four victories and 13 defeats in 23 league matches since his appointment in May. The team is currently four points away from avoiding relegation.
Recent heavy defeats have intensified scrutiny on the former England captain, including a 6-1 loss to Norwich and 4-0 defeats against both Bristol City and Coventry.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth," said Rooney.
"Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future.
"To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.
"Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results."
The club's official statement confirmed: "Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and head coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.
"We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future."
The 39-year-old's managerial career has faced challenges, including his dismissal from Birmingham after 15 matches last season, which ended in relegation.
At Derby, despite praise for his efforts, he couldn't prevent relegation following points deductions due to administration and Football League rule breaches.
After leaving Derby in 2022, Rooney managed DC United in America before returning to English football.
As a player, Rooney achieved remarkable success, becoming Manchester United's highest scorer and holding England's scoring record until Harry Kane surpassed it in 2023.
His playing career at United spanned 13 years until 2017, during which he collected five Premier League titles, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup honours.