Wayne Rooney tipped for dramatic return to Man Utd to boost attack

Wes Brown has thrown his support behind ex-teammate Wayne Rooney for a potential coaching role at Manchester United, following Rooney's departure from Plymouth Argyle last week.

Rooney, 39, parted ways with Plymouth after a challenging seven-month tenure, leaving the Championship side at the bottom of the table with just four league victories.

His managerial stint at Birmingham City also ended in disappointment, with only two wins in 15 games, while his time at Derby County and DC United saw him achieve a win percentage of under 30%.

While Rooney’s next career move remains uncertain—whether a return to punditry or another managerial position—Brown believes he could make a significant impact as an attacking coach at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim.

"If Wayne wanted to take on a role as a striking coach, he would be absolutely brilliant at it," Brown told The Sports Daily.

"He was one of the best goalscorers we’ve ever seen and also a top playmaker.

"He’d be excellent at teaching movement and the intricacies of being a striker because he was one of the best to do it. Could he help Rasmus Højlund at Manchester United? I think all young strikers would love to learn from Wayne and tap into his knowledge.

"When I was a young player, I remember getting tips from Laurent Blanc, and those little things can really make a difference. If Wayne were available to share advice at United, I’m sure everyone would be eager to listen."

Reflecting on Rooney’s departure from Plymouth, Brown acknowledged the challenges his former teammate faced but backed him to recover and pursue future opportunities.

"I thought in some of the close games they were unlucky, but football is a results-driven business, and they couldn’t secure enough wins," Brown said.

"The owners decided to move in a new direction, but Wayne is resilient. He’ll keep his head up and be ready for another challenge in no time.

"Of course, he’ll be disappointed—it’s clear he was determined to succeed there. It didn’t go to plan, but that’s the nature of football. Wayne is a good person, and it’s admirable that the parting was amicable.

"He wouldn’t want to put Plymouth under unnecessary strain, and that says a lot about his character. He wanted to do well, and while it didn’t work out, he’ll bounce back."