Derby County appoint a new permanent manager in Wayne Rooney, which comes following the departure of Phillip Cocu in November.
Rooney had been in sole interim charge at Pride Park since his exit, and has guided the club to 22nd in the Championship table, picking up 19 points from 22 games.
His first game as the new permanent manager will be Saturday Championship fixture at home to Rotherham United with a 3pm kick off.
Captain. Leader. The greatest.@WayneRooney: The Manager 🐏
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 15, 2021
CLUB STATEMENT:
Derby County Football Club is delighted to confirm the appointment of Wayne Rooney as the club’s new manager.
The 35-year-old takes up the position on a two-and-half-year deal which will run until the summer of 2023.
Rooney stepped up to lead Derby’s coaching team towards the end of November after former manager Phillip Cocu parted company with the club earlier that month.
He was supported by fellow coaches Liam Rosenior, Shay Given and Justin Walker, who will retain their positions on Rooney’s staff moving forward.
Rosenior takes up the role of assistant manager, while Given will move to the position of first-team coach. Walker will remain as first-team development coach, while Academy goalkeeping coach Jason Pearcey has been appointed as the club’s first-team goalkeeping coach.
Steve McClaren will continue to assume the duties of technical director and advisor to the board of directors.
Rooney oversaw nine matches in total, recording a return of three victories and four draws along the way, between the end of November and early January.
In line with taking up the managerial position, Rooney has elected to call time on his illustrious playing career to fully focus on his job.
England and Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, with over 700 professional appearances to his name, joined Derby in January 2020 and appeared in a Rams shirt on 35 occasions.
Derby County’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce said: “We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Wayne Rooney as our new manager.
“Our recent upturn in results under Wayne was married together with some positive performances, notably the 2-0 home win over Swansea City and the 4-0 victory at Birmingham City.
“During that nine-game run we also dramatically improved their defensive record and registered five clean sheets in the process, while in the attacking third we became more effective and ruthless too.
“Those foundations have provided a platform for the club to build on in the second half of the season under Wayne’s guidance.”
Rooney said: “When I first arrived back in the United Kingdom I was completely blown away by the potential of Derby County Football Club. The Stadium, Training Ground, the quality of the playing staff and the young players coming through and of course the fan base that has remained loyal and supportive.
“Despite other offers I knew instinctively Derby County was the place for me.
“To be given the opportunity to follow the likes of Brian Clough, Jim Smith, Frank Lampard and Phillip Cocu is such an honour and I can promise everyone in involved in the club and all our fans, my staff and I will leave no stone unturned in achieving the potential I have witnessed over the last 12 months of this historic football club.”

www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
The Rams have come under a fair bit of stick of late after news emerged that their proposed takeover was taking a while to go through.
One particular Leeds fan couldn’t help but take the piss after journalists reported that Derby could face administration.
Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett revealed how they aren’t looking to sell any first-team players, but instead are looking at offloading some of their academy graduates to help them financially.
Derby were hoping for a takeover by Sheikh Khaled’s Derventio Holdings to be finalised and those at the club keep banging on how everything will be alright.
But the money has not come through and they don’t have the funds to cover their salaries meaning players are getting restless having not received what they’re due.
Derby vowed not to make an official appointment of manager until the takeover was done.
ROONEY’S CAREER:
As there is so much you can say about him and his career as a footballer. Everyone remember the day he made his professional debut for boyhood club Everton back in August 2002 aged 16.
Little did he know at that exact moment that he would go on to become a legend within the game, being the Premier League’s youngest scorer with a that stunning long-range goal when he faced Arsenal prior his 17th birthday.
He then featured at Euro 2004, and after some top notch performances, he was then bought for £27million by Manchester United, which at that point in time was a world record fee for a teenager.
He went on to spend 13 years with the Red Devils, winning the Premier League five times, the Champions League, the FA Cup and three League Cups.
Rooney will feel a little gutted that he time as an England player wasn’t as good as we all expected it to be some would say, however he did break Sir Bobby Charlton record, beating his record of 49 goals before calling time on his international career in August 2017.
His final appearance for the Three Lions came versus the USA in a friendly taking place in November 2018, seeing him finish up with a total of 53 goals in 120 appearances.
He did endure a second stint at the Toffees and then moved on to DC United from the MLS, before then signing for Derby in January 2020 as a player-coach on an initial 18-month contract.
Now he’s the officially the new Derby boss, officially ending his playing career as the second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, with a total of 208 goals.
‘Sacked by May’ along with ‘Am I dreaming?’ was just some of the reaction as Derby County appoint Wayne Rooney as their new permanent manager…
We actually have a manager?….Definitely having some drinks tonight!
— Alex Tarr (@AlexTarr91) January 15, 2021
@ramswriter: Afternoon gaffer
@dingletragedy: club might be in the shitter but we’ve got rooney!!!!!! UTR
@jez100: Sacked by may 🤣🤣🤣
@Lone_R_anger: Hope you don’t pull a Gary Neville or a Thierry Henry.
@Bullp33: Captain. Leader. The greatest. Unpaid.
@ReubenPinder: It’s such a shame that Rooney’s playing career has faded away rather than him getting the send off he deserves in front of a packed stadium. One of the greats
@SteveBloomerPod: ANNOUNCE MEGASTORE DISCOUNTS
@amyl0uiseee: pls don’t just fuck off after one season x
@xJammsterZx: TAKEOVER TIME BABYYYYYY
@CallumWest98: Fucking hell some good news???
@KerryAngie: Great news! Beginning of a new era for Rooney’s Rams.
@ManUnitedMedia: Rooney’s at the wheel 😆
@fans_county: That there….. IS THE TWEET
@OStevenson12: End of an era. The best English player of his generation
@Joe43534774: Announce promotion
@dcfcgally: TAKEOVER TIME PLS
@MichaelWalsh44 as Derby County appoint new permanent manager Wayne Rooney: 😆😆😆 going down
@AdrianPacey: Let’s get this takeover done some players in and let him get on with it
@KyleDCFC7again: I never would’ve believed something like this 2 months ago with the performances I was seeing but he has deserved it ever since
@Sarge_Euan: Can’t wait for Manchester United or Everton to steal him when he gets us to a playoff final
@WardySBE: Hope he hasn’t asked for a payrise

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