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- The Plymouth Argyle boss poked fun at Neville’s previous coaching career
Wayne Rooney has jokingly mocked his former Man United team-mate Gary Neville after being asked about his return to football management.
In May, Rooney was appointed as the new manager of Plymouth Argyle on a three-year deal – just four months after being sacked by Birmingham City.
He has since been taking on a number of different duties such as punditry duty with the BBC for Euro 2024 and appearing on podcasts to delve into his past.
However, now, as he gears up for the start of the season the former Man United striker has settled down at Plymouth and recently partook in a press conference where he answered some pressing questions.
One of which included a question about his desires to get back into football management – after leaving Birmingham – to which he made a direct remark about Neville.
Plymouth Argyle boss Wayne Rooney jokingly mocked Gary Neville during a press conference
Rooney and Neville (right) are close friends having spent seven seasons together at United
Asked why he returned to the dugout, Rooney said: ‘Because I don’t want to be the next Gary Neville’.
Neville has previously been candid about his tumultuous time in charge of Valencia between 2015 and 2016, which saw him hold office for just four months – during which time he won just three of his 16 league games in charge.
Back in May, speaking on his podcast Stick to Football, Neville spoke honestly about how he struggled to understand what was going on from the dugout.
‘I remember we played three times against Athletic Bilbao, in the Europa League quarter-final and in a league game, and Ernesto Valverde was the coach – he played a different system that I thought he would and then he changed during the game, and I remember thinking that I was nowhere near that level,’ Neville said.
‘I felt massively inferior to him because I struggled to manage and watch the game from pitch level, especially compared to how I see the game in the gantry.
‘You put yourself on the touchline and you’re watching a game where all you can see is legs, and how you think of the game tactically or how managers spot things, I have no idea because I remember thinking that I had no idea what was going on.’
Since leaving his role with the Spanish side, Neville is yet to take up another coaching role, while Rooney has backed himself yet again, as he prepares for life at Plymouth.
Rooney made reference to Neville’s struggles in management at Spanish side Valencia
Speaking back in May, Rooney explained that the ‘exciting project’ at Home Park Stadium was a big factor for his return to management.
On his appointment at Plymouth, Rooney said: ‘Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the Chairman and Board for the faith they have shown in me.
‘This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.
‘I have experienced first-hand how talented the existing group of players is here – and also the incredible atmosphere at Home Park. The club is on an exciting long-term journey, with a progressive plan in place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it. I can’t wait for the Championship season to start in August.’
