Clubs need to stop gambling on managerial failures

Football Today

·3. Januar 2025

Clubs need to stop gambling on managerial failures

Football Today’s ‘newsletter’ series is our new football column packed with news, opinions and more.

We look at a major talking point from football and highlight some of the best football stories elsewhere on the internet.

OneFootball Videos

You will also find links to some of the top features on Football Today and what to watch out for over the next day. Let’s get the ball rolling!

Rooney is a busted flush as a manager

Plymouth Argyle’s decision to sack Wayne Rooney as manager following a disastrous run of results surprised no one in the football world.

Winning just four out of 24 games this season is a sackable offence at any level and should signal the end of Rooney’s underwhelming managerial.

The 39-year-old is the latest ‘big-name’ player to fail in management, following in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and several others.

The clubs who make these appointments deserve little sympathy when things go wrong. Argyle gambled on Rooney and paid a heavy price.

His dreadful spell in charge of Birmingham City should have been a red flag for the Pilgrims, but they ignored it and handed him the reins.

A return to League One after two seasons in the Championship is the least they deserve after appointing someone who is not fit for purpose as a manager.

Rooney will probably head towards punditry now – an arena where he has shown promise. Much like former teammate Gary Neville, he isn’t cut out for management.