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Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has clarified his position on whether he intends to return to football management in the future.

Rooney began his coaching journey with Derby County, initially serving as a player-coach before taking full control of the team. During his tenure, Derby faced severe challenges after entering administration and suffering a significant points deduction.

Despite the difficult circumstances, United’s all-time top scorer remarkably managed to steer the team towards survival in the Championship.

Following that, Rooney headed back to his former club DC United in Major League Soccer (MLS). However, his stint there was less successful, as the team failed to reach the playoffs. Over 53 matches, he secured just 14 wins before parting ways with the club by mutual agreement.

Rooney’s next managerial role came with Birmingham City, where he replaced John Eustace. His time at St Andrew’s, however, lasted only 83 days. During that period, he managed just two victories from 15 games, registering a win rate of 13%. His most recent job in the dugout was with Plymouth Argyle.

Appointed in May 2024 on a three-year deal, Rooney struggled to turn things around at Plymouth, overseeing a nine-match winless run that left the club at the bottom of the Championship table.

Since stepping away from management, Rooney has transitioned into punditry and has quickly become one of the most recognisable voices in football broadcasting.

During a BBC Sport Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, the former England striker admitted to having some regrets about his time in management.

He also made it clear that he currently has no plans to return to the managerial arena.

“I think you always have regrets, and I reflect on what I’ve done. I think the biggest regret I have is the Birmingham City job, in terms of the timing of when I took over from John Eustace,” Rooney said.

When asked if he would consider managing again, he responded, “Probably not.”

He further explained, “Of course, I’ve never closed doors and never say never, but at the moment – where I am now, where my head space is – I wouldn’t.”

Back in January, Rooney had mentioned that if he were ever offered a role on Michael Carrick’s coaching staff at Manchester United, he would consider it an obvious choice.