Wayne Rooney has reportedly turned down the chance to become part of Erik ten Hag's coaching staff at Manchester United next season.
It was yesterday announced that the current Ajax boss will be taking over at Old Trafford from next season, replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the club's next permanent manager. Mitchell Van der Gaag, Ten Hag's long-term Ajax assistant, is expected to make the move to Manchester as his right-hand man.
The 52-year-old certainly has his work cut out to restore the Red Devils as a force in the top-flight, therefore requiring astute appointments behind-the-scenes in order to help speed up the rebuilding process at the club. It has also been suggested that ex-England manager Steve McLaren is set to be added to the ranks as United begin to form their new-look coaching setup.
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According to a latest report by the Athletic, Rooney was 'informally proposed' as a possibility for the coaching staff, though turned down this opportunity after insisting he is only prepared to leave Derby County for a No.1 role.
Rooney rejected the opportunity to interview for the Everton manager's job following the dismissal of Rafa Benitez earlier this year, pledging his commitment to the task in hand at Derby. His job at Pride Park has been made even more of a challenge on the back of the Rams' recent relegation to League One, with the ex-Blues forward making clear he will only stay at the club if a takeover is completed.
He said: "The takeover has to happen. If it doesn't I fear for the club. It has to (go through). If it happens, I want to rebuild the club. This is a special club, I've said all along. I want to try and bring the happy days back."
"I feel for the players. We've taken 52 points and in normal circumstances we'd be safe by now. We've paid the price for what the previous owner has left behind. It's no-one's fault - not mine, not the staff, not the players' - other than the previous owner. We're paying the price and I'm sure it's a sad day for Mel (Morris) too because I know he's a Derby fan. I'm sure he'll be very disappointed."
