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      Wayne Rooney faces huge battle saving Derby from relegation and risks putting pride before a fall

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      WAYNE ROONEY risks putting pride before a fall as he leads Derby’s coaching staff from Monday.
      It would be all too easy for Roo to get romantic about the situation with County’s new owners expected to move in this week.

      Wayne Rooney should be cautious about accepting such a tough job as DerbyCredit: PA

      Ex-PSV Eindhoven chief Phillip Cocu has exited Pride Park with the Rams bottom of the ChampionshipCredit: PA:Press Association

      The Rams have a history as one of England’s most illustrious clubs, linked with legendary figures like Brian Clough, Dave Mackay, Francis Lee, Peter Shilton and Roy McFarland.
      And Rooney’s arrival as Phillip Cocu’s player-coach in January was always supposed to lead him into his first job as a manager.
      That’s why he walked away from a lucrative  contract that still had two years to run at MLS club DC United and his progression was supposed to be set in stone.

      FROM 2004 LIONS TO THE DUGOUT

      TEN of England’s starting XI against Portugal at Euro 2004 have now gone into coaching or management. Here is what they have done.

      DAVID BECKHAM: England (2010, coach).DAVID JAMES: Kerala Blasters (2018, manager).PAUL SCHOLES: Oldham (2019, manager), Salford (2014-, owner; 2020, manager).WAYNE ROONEY: Derby (2020-, caretaker manager).GARY NEVILLE: England (2012-16, assistant) Valencia (2015-16, manager).STEVEN GERRARD: Liverpool (2017-18, youth coach), Rangers (2018-, manager).FRANK LAMPARD: Derby (2018-19, manager), Chelsea (2019-, manager).ASHLEY COLE: Derby (2018-19, coach), Chelsea (2019-, coach).SOL CAMPBELL: Macclesfield (2018-19, manager), Southend (2019-20, manager).JOHN TERRY: Aston Villa (2018-, assistant).MICHAEL OWEN: None

      The scenario was that Cocu would make way once he had led the Rams back to the Premier League.

      Cocu, 50, appeared to have all the right credentials as Rooney’s mentor.
      He took PSV Eindhoven to three Eredivisie titles in four years, made 101 appearances for Holland and spent six years playing at Barcelona.
      And 35-year-old Rooney should have been able to take notes on how to get  a Championship club  promoted.
      Yet England’s 53-goal record scorer wasn’t even able to take notes on crisis management because Cocu appeared clueless about that side of the job.

      On July 1, Rooney scored the only goal in the win at Preston that took Derby to seventh in the table, one point off the play-offs.
      They then fell like a stone, taking one point from their next five games before a final-day 3-1  triumph at Birmingham.
      This season, Derby have won once in 11 league games — meaning they have just TWO victories in their last 17 league matches — and are rock bottom.So saving them would be a huge feather in Roo’s cap.

      Player-coach Wayne Rooney has stepped up to replace Dutch manager Phillip Cocu after just one Championship win for Derby so far this seasonCredit: Reuters
      But those 17 Championship games show he should be under no illusions if prospective new owner Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan offers him the job.
      Derby’s form suggests not only a complete lack of leadership by Cocu but also that too many of the players have had a true grit bypass.
      They are playing like losers and, even as captain, Rooney has been unable to shake them out of their lethargy.
      By the time he takes charge against Bristol City on Saturday, County could be five points adrift of 21st place if Coventry beat Brum the night before.
      The job facing Cocu’s replacement is surely not one for a virgin soldier like Rooney, despite spending nine years working under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, while becoming their record scorer with 253 goals.
      Fireman Sam Allardyce would be a better bet to keep Derby up, or fellow street-fighter Tony Pulis.
      But 24 hours before current owner Mel Morris finally got rid of Cocu, Pulis was appointed as Garry Monk’s successor at Sheffield Wednesday.
      And even the Owls are above Derby, despite having suffered a six-point deduction.

      The hope for the Rams would be boat-loads of cash for a transfer-window splurge.. But it might already be too late.

      Sheikh Khaled and his takeover company Derventio Holdings, can be expected to throw money at the problem.
      He is a distant cousin of another member of Abu Dhabi royalty, Manchester City’s Sheikh Mansour.
      The hope for the Rams would be he will pour boat-loads of cash into a January transfer-window splurge and all will be well.
      But it might already be too late by then.

      Everything suggests Rooney would be mad to start his first job as a manager in a grim battle for survival with players who have lost their way.
      Derby have been in the third tier of English football twice before.
      Making it three, under his management, would not look good on his CV and he could be left ruing the day he let his heart rule his head.

      Wayne Rooney gets emergency Covid test after infected pal delivers luxury watch to his house More

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      Rangers target Kenny McLean transfer from Norwich as Steven Gerrard sets sights on Scotland’s Euro 2020 hero

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      STEVEN GERRARD is looking to sign Norwich’s Scotland Euro 2020 hero Kenny McLean to boost Rangers’ title and European bids.
      Boyhood Gers’ fan McLean sent the Tartan Army to a major finals for the first time since 1998 with penalties in both of the shootouts on the way to glory.

      Norwich midfielder and Rangers fan Kenny McLean is being eyed by Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard after his penalty helped Scotland reach the EurosCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Kenny McLean might be keen on switching from the Championship to Rangers to get regular football before the Euros next summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And the lure of being a regular at club level in the run-up to the big games in the summer makes a move to Rangers appealing for the midfielder.
      Gerrard is keen on McLean, who has been in and out of the Canaries team since they were relegated to the Championship.
      McLean, 28, could be willing to go home as the Glasgow giants try to stop Celtic winning ten titles in a row.
      Rangers may  offer a deal paid in instalments or possibly take McLean on loan with a guaranteed buy in the summer.

      Rangers tried for McLean in the last transfer window.
      And insiders claim that the player would be up for the switch north if Norwich are willing to let him go.
      But Canaries boss Daniel Farke refused to consider selling McLean in their relegation season, insisting he was “incredibly important” and still developing.
      McLean himself has spoken before of an Ibrox approach.

      He told Si Ferry’s Open Goal: “There was talk a couple of times about Rangers but nothing ever materialised for me.
      “Even when I was out of contract at Aberdeen, I had six months left on my deal and there were talks but nothing too big to be honest with you.
      “Nothing for me to get excited about because there was nothing ever in front of me.”

      Scotland players do the conga and chant David Marshall in incredible Euro 2020 celebrations More

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      Wayne Rooney named Derby interim boss after Phillip Cocu AXED with Rams rooted to bottom of Championship

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      WAYNE ROONEY is Derby’s new interim boss after the shock axing of Phillip Cocu.
      Former England and Manchester United star Rooney, 35, takes the reins with Liam Rosenior as Dutchman Cocu’s backroom staff were also dumped.

      Wayne Rooney has been added to the coaching staff after Derby sacked Phillip CocuCredit: Reuters

      Cocu and Rooney worked together closely as skipper and coachCredit: Rex Features

      Derby County Football Club have parted company with manager Phillip Cocu, Chris van der Weerden and Twan Scheepers by mutual agreement and immediate effect.Full story👇#DCFC
      — Derby County (@dcfcofficial) November 14, 2020

      Derby skipper Rooney said: “I am sorry Phillip and his staff have left the club.
      “And I want to thank him personally for all of his help and encouragement as part of the coaching staff.
      “The most important thing now is to stabilise the club and start moving up the table. I have been asked to be part of the staff to help the team’s preparations for next Saturday’s vital match at Bristol City.”
      Rooney, Rosenior and fellow coaches Shay Given and Justin Walker will oversee training.

      And Roo added: “The coaches and I will speak with players on Monday.”

      Former Premier League keeper Shay Given is one of four interim coachesCredit: PA:Press Association

      Liam Rosenior will also share first-team duties Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Former Barcelona and Holland midfielder Cocu, 50, only took charge at Pride Park in July 2019.
      But the Rams are rooted to the bottom of the Championship and have won just one of their 11 league matches this term.
      Cocu said: “Although this season has not gone as we all would have liked on the pitch I believe passionately in the project that we started to build.”

      Rooney does not have his coaching badges yet, so respected coach Rosenior will be the senior qualified face in the dug-out for the time being.
      But Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan and his team have made no contact with Rooney or his camp during their bid to buy the club.
      Although there has been agreement for over a week there has been no feeler put out in his direction, raising doubts about whether the Arab and his advisers have other candidates in mind.
      Aston Villa coach John Terry’s name has been whispered while Steve McClaren could be asked back in a senior role.

      A Derby statement read: “Derby and Phillip Cocu have parted company by mutual agreement with immediate effect.
      “Assistant manager Chris van der Weerden and first-team coach Twan Scheepers also left the club by mutual agreement.
      “The club would like to record its appreciation for the way Phillip and his staff conducted themselves in what were some extremely challenging situations during his tenure.
      “Phillip made significant financial contributions and personal efforts towards the club’s community projects during the Covid-19 pandemic, which the club are extremely grateful for.”

      Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney in line for Derby job as Rams chiefs lose patience with manager Phillip Cocu More

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      Tony Pulis returns to management at Sheffield Wednesday after year out as he replaces the sacked Garry Monk

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      TONY PULIS has been confirmed as the new boss of Sheffield Wednesday.
      The veteran, 62, replaces Garry Monk in the Hillsborough dug-out after he was sacked earlier this week.

      Tony Pulis is the new manager of Sheffield WednesdayCredit: Press Association

      Wednesday confirmed his arrival on Twitter.
      However, the length of his contract has not yet be announced.
      Former Stoke manager Pulis returns to management for the first time in over a year.
      He left Middlesbrough after a two-and-a-half year spell in June 2019 after the club narrowly missed out on the play-offs.

      The Welshman brings a wealth of experience to Wednesday having managed ten clubs previously.
      He has overseen 1,123 games in nearly three decades in the dugout.
      Having replaced Harry Redknapp at Bournemouth for his first job, he then went to Gillingham and led them to the League One play-off final.
      Stints at Bristol City and Portsmouth followed before two stints at Stoke, with a period at Plymouth sandwiched in between.

      He guided Stoke to the Premier League and their first-ever FA Cup final, which secured European qualification.
      Pulis was crowned the Premier League Manager of the Year after taking Crystal Palace away from the drop zone to an 11th-place finish.
      He then went to West Brom and led them to a top ten finish before he headed to Middlesbrough in 2017.

      Tony Pulis refuses to respond to The Sun’s article by ex-Stoke player Dave Kitson detailing Pulis’s hatred for Arsene Wenger More

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      Neil Warnock lands record 11th Championship Manager of the Month award after guiding Middlesbrough to unbeaten October

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      NEIL WARNOCK has made EFL history by winning a record 11th Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award.
      The 71-year-old veteran was already one ahead of Chris Hughton in the all-time standings before scooping another for his collection after a stunning month at Middlesbrough.

      Neil Warnock is named Championship Manager of the Month for a record 11th time

      Boro enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run in October.
      Warnock’s side collected 14 points during that period to move into play-off contention.
      The former Sheffield United and Cardiff boss said: “It’s been such a difficult time up in the North East, so it’s nice to be a bit of good news and put a few smiles on faces.
      “It’s a talking point for the fans, and the sooner we can get them back into stadiums the better.”

      He added: “We’ve played some cracking football, and there’s great camaraderie in the squad.
      “I can’t stress it enough how much I’ve enjoyed working with them.
      “Everybody in the dressing room wants to listen, and the way some of them have improved, that’s what I enjoy most in management.”
      Warnock took charge at The Riverside in June and guided the club to safety by winning four of his eight games at the helm last term.

      Boro are next in action on Saturday 21 November when they host Norwich.
      Meanwhile, Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson scooped the League One accolade.
      And Newport County’s Michael Flynn took the prize in the League Two.

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      England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney passing on the knowledge to Derby starlet and Under-21s newbie Lee Buchanan

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      WAYNE ROONEY has been giving tips to England Under-21s newbie Lee Buchanan.
      Derby whizkid Buchanan, 19, this week received his first call-up to the Young Lions.

      Wayne Rooney has been passing on the international advice at DerbyCredit: Rex Features

      Lee Buchanan has received his first call-up to the England U21s squadCredit: Rex Features

      They host Andorra on Friday and Albania on Tuesday.
      It has marked a rapid rise of the defender.
      He just made his England Under-20s debut last month – and was only signed up by a professional club when he joined the Rams at 14.
      Speaking about his club-mate Rooney, the Mansfield lad said: “He’s England’s all-time top scorer so speaking to him obviously helps a lot.

      “He told me to go out there and enjoy myself, to keep doing what I do for the club and that he’s sure I’d be fine.
      “There are a lot of young lads at Derby who have learnt a lot off him.
      “Personally, he speaks to me about my positioning, when to manage the game. 
      “It’s always good to play alongside him and he’s given me a lot of tips of what to do when I’m here (with England).”

      Rooney is the second top scorer in Premier League history

      Buchanan added: “To start off with, it was a big ‘wow’ to play with him.
      “Especially for us younger lads, it was a massive wow. 
      “But when you’re with him every day, you get used to him but you can’t take that for granted.” More

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      Sheff Wednesday sack Garry Monk as Owls fight for Championship survival after points deduction

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED have sacked manager Garry Monk following the club’s difficult start to the season.
      The Owls, who are one place off the bottom of the Championship table, dismissed the ex-Swansea gaffer on Monday evening.

      Sheffield Wednesday have sacked Garry MonkCredit: PA:Press Association

      The 41-year-old’s last game in charge was a goalless draw against Millwall on Saturday that saw them rise to 23rd.
      Chairman Dejphon Chansiri told swfc.co.uk: “I feel the time is right to make a change and I wish Garry and his team all the best for the future.
      “I would like to say thank you for the time and effort Garry and his staff have committed to Sheffield Wednesday.”
      Wednesday were given a 12-point deduction back in August after being found guilty of breaching EFL spending rules.

      However, the penalty was reduced to six last week following an appeal.
      Without the points deduction, Wednesday would be clear of the relegation zone and just two behind 12th-placed Blackburn Rovers.
      Yet the Yorkshire outfit have won just three of their opening 11 league fixtures – with their recent win over Bournemouth ending a run of four successive defeats.
      Monk still had the remainder of this year on his contract plus the option for another season.

      Wednesday will now have the international break to consider his successor ahead of their next game against Preston North End on November 21.
      Monk has been handed the reigns at five clubs since his first post at Swansea while he was still a player in 2014.
      He went on to oversee short-lived tenures at Leeds, Middlesbrough and Birmingham. More

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      Jamal Lowe was always on a high when he watched Swansea and now is starring for them

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      LITTLE did Jamal Lowe know as a starry-eyed kid tweeting about Swansea that he would one day be playing for them.
      When the rookie was 17 and turning out for Barnet Under-18s, the Swans had just won promotion to the Premier League.

      Jamal Lowe is now starring for Swansea years after falling in love with themCredit: Nigel Keene/ProSports

      And Lowe fell in love with the Welsh club for their swashbuckling style under first Brendan Rodgers and then Michael Laudrup.
      Now nine years later he is hoping to help shoot them back into the big-time.
      After Swansea lost 1-0 at home to Manchester United in 2011, Lowe enthusiastically tweeted: “Watching Match Of The Day. Well done Swansea, great passing side!”
      In another – after seeing them thump Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage – he gushed: “Swansea’s all orange kit is swag.”

      And he was bowled over when he was elevated into the Barnet Under-21s side and had the chance to take on the Welsh kids.
      First he tweeted, “I’m buzzin’ for trips like Swansea away this season” then, after losing 1-0 at The Hive, he wrote, “Swansea was a very good side.”
      So Lowe, now 26, jumped at the chance to move to the Liberty Stadium from Wigan during the summer.

      Jamal Lowe started tweeting about his love for Swansea when he was 17
      And he said: “I don’t know how they found those tweets from all those years ago … incredible.

      “I was a kid tweeting what I was seeing. I was watching Swansea and became inspired about the way they played.
      “Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer are still here from the time I started watching them while Andre Ayew and Kyle Naughton were big players for the club in the Premier League.
      “In my view, it was only Arsenal at the time who were playing that type of tippy-tappy football. They had been newly promoted to the Premier League and stuck to their philosophy all the way. It was just so slick and took everyone by surprise.
      “And, even today, it’s the way the club want to play. It’s ingrained into their DNA.”
      The second-placed Swans travel to Norwich in third for what is the Championship’s game of the day on Saturday.
      Victory could even take the Welsh club top if Reading lose at home to Stoke.
      Boss Steve Cooper’s credentials – like his predecessor Graham Potter – are rapidly rising. Having led England to winning the Under-17s World Cup in 2017, he guided the Swans to the play-offs last season but is hoping to go one better this time.

      Steve Cooper definitely can become a Premier League manager – and we’re all pushing to get him there as we all want to be at that level too.”

      And Lowe said: “What I love about Steve is his approachability. It’s a big thing compared to other managers who are daunting or hard to approach, especially when you need to have a tough conversation.
      “He’s told me his phone number is there if I need to call him or the door open if I need to see him. That’s a huge thing when you’re a new player and are welcomed into the club like that.
      “He definitely can become a Premier League manager – and we’re all pushing to get him there as we all want to be at that level too.”
      If Lowe reaches his dream of playing in the top division, he will have done it the hard way.
      The winger has played in six of the top seven tiers of English football.Having started out with Barnet, he has also had spells at Hayes & Yeading, Boreham Wood, Hitchin, St Albans, Farnborough, Hemel Hempstead, Hampton & Richmond, Portsmouth and Wigan.
      And he is proud of his non-league roots even if at the time he found it challenging – especially after his release from Barnet in 2015.
      He said: “It’s real-life football. The fouls you get in the Championship wouldn’t be given in National League South because it’s rougher.

      Jamal Lowe was on the books at Barnet and played in non-leagueCredit: Barnet FC
      “Non-league is a mixed bag – you get people like myself who want to become pros while there are others who are decent footballers content at that level and go out for a few beers on a Friday night.
      “Then you have the ones who just want to release all their anger on a Saturday. It was a case of dealing with all those things.
      “There are some players who don’t have the same aspirations or goals you have and it can be difficult because they can affect the outcome of the game. If someone doesn’t care as much about the game as you do, it affects the team.
      “It’s not their fault – and I don’t criticise them either – it’s just a factor you must deal with. You can’t hold it against people for wanting to live a normal life.
      “I had to go part-time and worked as a PE teacher and teams started to train in the morning and be more full-time – that was tough because it ruled out a lot of clubs. I could only play for teams that trained on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.
      “It was a very humbling way to progress because when you get to the higher levels like I am now you know how life is down the other side.

      QPR turned me down because they had this lad, Raheem Sterling, playing in my position who was pretty good. To be fair, he hasn’t done too badly since has he?”

      “Don’t get wrong, it would’ve been great to have turned pro at a top Premier League club at 18 and still be there.
      “But this has been a great journey and it’s one that can inspire others never to give up.”
      The irony is Lowe’s dream of being signed by a top academy was dashed by a player who has gone on to win the Premier League and play for England … Raheem Sterling.Lowe laughed: “QPR turned me down because they had this lad, Raheem Sterling, playing in my position who was pretty good. To be fair, he hasn’t done too badly since has he?”

      Jamal Lowe played for St Albans City as he progressed through non-leagueCredit: Jamal Lowe
      Lowe got snapped up by Portsmouth and helped them get promoted from League Two and then spent last season at Wigan, which ended in the heartbreak of relegation after the EFL docked them 12 points at the end of the season.
      He said: “It was one of the most unjust decisions. It was crazy how they told us they’d take the 12 points off our only if it put us into a relegation position but would apply it next season if it didn’t – what sort of decision is that?”
      But things are going great in the Valleys now and Swansea are most definitely looking the business.
      One of the star performers has been Ayew. The Ghana striker top scored last season with 18 goals and has five already this time around.
      It was a huge boost for fans that Swansea managed to keep their talisman.
      And Lowe said: “He’s the ultimate professional, he doesn’t mess about. His quality off the pitch is the thing that surprised me.
      “Everyone knows how good he is on the pitch – but the way he is around the group with some of the older boys and younger boys, he mixes with everyone.

      Andre Ayew celebrates his fifth Swansea goal of the season at Brentford Credit: Huw Jenkins Agency

      “On the field, he has just developed a know-how. He always manages to get in the right place at the right time. It’s massive. Even if it’s a deflection, it drops to him because he is there.
      “The man has done it in every league across Europe that he’s played in as well as for his country. He’s the one we all wants to learn from and turn to for inspiration.”
      Lowe is certainly motivated and driven to reach the top.
      He said: “It’s hard to imagine three-and-a-half years ago I was playing in the National League at Hampton & Richmond – and now I’m just one step away from the Premier League.”

      Lowe will rip out seats himself if fans let in

      JAMAL LOWE says he will personally get a screwdriver and rip out some seats if it means fans will be let safely back into stadiums.

      The Swansea ace cannot understand why supporters were not allowed back into grounds earlier and wants the government to ensure they are once the current lockdown is over.
      He said: “What confuses me is when I go home from a huge stadium with no fans, I switch on television and Strictly Come Dancing is on with a small audience in a studio.
      “It makes absolutely no sense. Football have the biggest arenas in the country, all outside, yet the government cannot allow a restricted number of supporters in. It’s baffling.
      “Club can easily take some of the seats out temporarily to ensure fans are at a safe social distance. You will get so many volunteers who will help with that – and I will be the first one out there, with many other players I am sure, with a screwdriver ripping them out if it means fans return to the games.” More