Wayne Rooney backed to return to Man Utd to help struggling strikers

Martin Macdonald

• 17 Oct 2025 10:00 CDT
• 2 min read

News

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has been tipped to return to Old Trafford in a coaching capacity.

Rooney is the Red Devils' greatest ever goalscorer with 253 goals in his career with the club in which he won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, one Europa League and one Champions League.

Former team-mate Danny Simpson believes the struggling forwards in the current United squad, like Benjamin Sesko, whom Rooney has criticised, would undoubtedly benefit from his advice.

"You could never say that these players can’t have a role or a place at a club where they have done so much and do care about the club," Simpson told GOAL.

"I know it’s difficult because they are in the media and being honest, but that’s part of the game. He has to be honest - he can’t protect United, he can’t protect the players, he’s got to be honest and say what he sees. Why wouldn’t you, as a striker, want Wayne Rooney coming in. Imagine Sesko and he’s got Wayne Rooney helping him. It’s not a bad shout.

After a spell in the United States with D.C. United, Rooney turned his hand to management with Derby County before returning to DC as manager.

Rooney subsequently managed Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle, but did not enjoy success at either club and was sacked from both jobs.

He previously spoke of a dream of one day managing Man Utd, but Simpson reckons that will never happen.

"Yeah, I think that’s died," the former Leicester and United right-back confessed.

"The roles that he took were so difficult and he doesn’t get the credit for that, taking teams at difficult moments. The Birmingham one, they were flying, everyone was happy, so he upset the apple cart by going in as manager. But some of the other clubs that he took, they were in difficult moments.

"I would love to see Wayne Rooney back at United helping the young lads. If it was me and I was a striker and he came in to help me, you would be annoying him with questions all the time - what do you do in this position, what do you do in this position? That would be something I would like to see."

Rooney is now a regular on Match of the Day as a pundit but still has aspirations of returning to management should the right opportunity arise.

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