Wayne Rooney took to social media with a touch of class to congratulate Plymouth Argyle after their stunning FA Cup victory over Brentford.
The former Manchester United and England star, who parted ways with Argyle last month following a run of just four league wins in 23 matches, showed his support for the club despite their struggles under his management.
The Championship side, currently fighting relegation, have appointed ex-Cercle Brugge manager Miron Muslic as Rooney’s successor. Muslic, aged 42, has agreed to a three-and-a-half year contract with the Pilgrims and was present to witness interim manager Kevin Nancekivell steer the team to an impressive 1-0 win against top-flight opposition on Saturday.
Despite being replaced by Nancekivell, Rooney displayed no bitterness, taking to Instagram to celebrate Nancekivell’s success. He posted a photo of the interim boss in the midst of celebrations, captioning it: “So happy for this man. Legend,” accompanied by a large green heart emoji.
Rooney’s tenure at Plymouth Argyle was marked by difficulty, culminating in his departure as the team languished at the foot of the Championship table. His managerial career now hangs in the balance after a similarly short-lived spell at Birmingham City concluded last January, reports the Mirror.
Rooney’s exit from the club led to the cancellation of a documentary that was set to follow his tenure at the club. Despite facing criticism over Rooney’s appointment, Argyle chairman Simon Hallett has dismissed suggestions that it was merely for show.
“Raising our profile was not one of the considerations in hiring Wayne Rooney,” Hallett clarified in a statement on the club’s official website.
“We thought that he would be able to help us win football matches. During Wayne’s tenure as Head Coach, we saw glimpses of what was possible, but clearly both results and underlying performances were showing few signs of being at the level we need.”
“We thank Wayne for what he did achieve in his months at the Club. He united the players, helped restore a positive attitude at the Club and won over the fans whose support had been tested for a few months in 2024. His approachable nature and down to earth personality made him a popular figure and we will miss him.”
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