Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney says he would jump at the chance to join Pep Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City.
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Rooney on lookout for new coaching roleAdmits he would join Guardiola's staffEx-striker sacked after 15 games at BirminghamWHAT HAPPENED?
The ex-United and England striker has already started his career as a head coach, but he would not hesitate if offered the opportunity to study under Guardiola, even if it meant joining his old team's arch-rivals. The 38-year-old highlighted Mikel Arteta's progress at Arsenal after a spell as Guardiola's assistant to justify his claim.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT ROONEY SAID
Asked if he would accept a job as an assistant, Rooney told the podcast: "It depends. If Pep Guardiola comes in and asks me to be his assistant, you’d walk there! But you see what Arteta is doing now and I strongly believe a lot of that is from learning what Guardiola was doing and so it depends on what the situation is.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Rooney has had three stints as a manager since ending his playing career. He started with a year-and-a-half spell at Derby before heading to MLS to take over as D.C. United boss, winning just 14 of the 53 games they played in that time before he left in October last year and ended up at Birmingham. Rooney's period with the Championship side was a dismal one, though, as he was sacked by NFL legend Tom Brady and his fellow Birmingham board members after just two wins in 15 games.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ROONEY?
Rooney is still on the hunt for a new club and has indicated he would accept a job at a lower level in order to work his way up, adding: "Of course, my playing experience will help me, but I’m right at the bottom from a managerial point of view, and I want to work my way up. I’m not relying on what I’ve done as a player to get me into places that I shouldn’t be."