Wayne Rooney has parted ways with Championship club Plymouth Argyle by mutual agreement.
The 39-year-old former England captain managed only four league wins and endured 13 defeats in 23 Championship games since taking charge of the Pilgrims in May. His tenure ends with the club at the bottom of the division.
Rooney joined Plymouth Argyle four months after being dismissed by Birmingham City following an 83-day stint that saw nine defeats in 15 games.
Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Oxford United, which marked their sixth defeat in a nine-game winless streak starting in early November, led to Rooney and his players being booed. Despite his defiant stance, stating he did not take criticism “personally,” the defeat was enough to conclude his term as head coach. Rooney had been hailed as “the perfect candidate to provide an exciting and attacking brand of football” upon his appointment.
Under Rooney, who holds scoring records for both England and Manchester United, Plymouth dropped to the bottom of the table, scored the joint fewest goals in the second tier, and conceded more goals than any other club in England’s top four divisions.
Assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Simon Ireland have also left Home Park.
First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will lead the team in Wednesday’s home game against Bristol City.
