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      Middlesbrough star Dael Fry closing in on testimonial but first wants to repay the faith of ex-Real Madrid defender

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      DAEL FRY is desperate to get Middlesbrough promoted to pay back Jonathan Woodgate’s faith – and celebrate it all with a testimonial.The 27-year-old defender, who produced a man of the match display in Sunday’s Championship draw with Burnley, has amazingly already surpassed TWO DECADES at his hometown club.Dael Fry is hoping to begin 2025 with a Middlesbrough win at Hull CityCredit: RexAnd the start of 2025, which begins with a trip to Yorkshire rivals Hull City today, also means that he is closing in on the ten-year anniversary of his first-team debut.Fry, who won both the U17 European Championship and U20 World Cup with England, was thrust into action amid an injury crisis on the opening day of the 2015/16 season.The then 17-year-old produced a brilliant performance in the goalless draw away at Preston and ended up making a further six appearances in what transpired to be a promotion-winning campaign under Aitor Karanka.Fry said: “It feels like yesterday. I told my mum and dad and they were absolutely buzzing.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“I just remember being so nervous but at Preston you walk out in the corner and I saw all the red in the away stand, it was all sold out, and I just thought ‘wow, these are the games you want to play in’.“As soon as the game kicked off the nerves went, we drew 0-0, but it’s mad how quick time goes.”Fry spent half of the following season on loan at Rotherham as Boro suffered relegation – and they are still waiting to return to the top-flight.Since then he has amassed 259 appearances for the team he grew up supporting under six different permanent managers.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne of those was fellow Teessider Woodgate, the ex-Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid centre-half.He regularly spoke about the talents of Fry during his ill-fated spell in charge that ended just after the return from Covid in 2020 after the club slipped deep into relegation trouble.World Cup winner received a carnival welcome to England in 1995 but does something very different nowHowever, despite the star suffering several injury issues during that stint, he is now desperate to repay the faith shown in him with Woodgate back at the Riverside as Michael Carrick’s assistant.Fry said: “I still look back on that time of my career with a bit of regret. Woody had so much faith in me and it was so stop-start for me and I had loads of little niggles.“I always heard the stuff he was saying and I really wanted to back that up for him and prove him right but I never felt like I did.“Now I actually feel like I can do that. I train with Woody day in, day out and he’s so good with the defensive lads.”Fry has seen a host of players come and go over the past decade, but despite three draws over the festive period, he believes this team feels like it could be the one to deliver Premier League football again.He said: “You know what, we’ve had some really good squads over the years but we haven’t quite made it.“This year, I feel there’s something different, there’s a lot of quality at the top end of the pitch.The Teessider made his debut aged 17 just shy of a decade ago under Aitor KarankaCredit: ReutersEven at the back we are conceding less goals now and scoring more.“The year that we got promoted, I really feel like there is a little bit of that feeling coming back and we’ve got a right good chance.”While Fry is desperate for the life-changing Prem experience on the pitch, off it he revealed how the arrival of his first child, a baby girl, 17 months ago transformed him personally.“That was the hardest year of my life, the first one, with the nightfeeds,” he said.“I didn’t realise how much your life would change but now she is walking, talking and I’m really enjoying it and it’s fantastic.I train with Woody day in, day out and he’s so good with the defensive lads.Dael Fry“There are things more important than football and I’ve realised that since becoming a father. As hard as it is, it’s beautiful.”While Fry is close to completing his tenth season in the first-team, he admits 2024 has been a year to forget after recently returning from a nine-month absence.He said: “At first we didn’t know the severity of the injury. I was just sort of getting injections and trying to deal with it. But then we decided we couldn’t keep going like that, I needed to know what it was and deal with it.Who are these famous footballers?“In the summer I ended up getting surgery (double hernia) but came back a little bit too early and done my calf twice. So I thought, I’m going to use this time and was in the gym, doing all my conditioning, eating right and the past nine weeks for me have been top. I feel like I’m in the best shape I can be in.“I still feel like I’ve got a lot more to give with Middlesbrough. This is the best that I’ve felt in my career.“I’ve been in and out injured quite a bit but now I’ve got no niggles, no injuries and hopefully I can continue for a lot more years at Middlesbrough.”Fry is desperate to represent Boro in the Premier League and insists this can be their seasonCredit: RexTestimonials are a rarity these days, but while Fry is aware of them, his immediate aim is to kick off a bumper 2025 by helping them climb out of the Championship.He added: “Yeah I do know what a testimonial is. My sister just reminded me the other day that it’s my 20th year at the club. When she said it I just thought that it was absolutely mental. It’s bizarre.“For me, to do that for my hometown team is surreal and the next step is to get Middlesbrough promoted and to play for them in the Premier League.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I want to be in the Premier League with Middlesbrough. I did think that would have come a bit sooner but it hasn’t been meant to be. But this year there’s just a different feeling.“Even with the coaching staff. It just feels a little bit different.” More

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      Burnley complete transfer of Peru defender Oliver Sonne, 24… whose auntie is a world famous supermodel

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      BURNLEY have signed defender Oliver Sonne from Danish outfit  Silkeborg.The Peru right-back becomes Clarets boss Scott Parker’s first signing of the January window and has penned a four-and-a-half-year deal.Oliver Sonne has signed for Championship side BurnleyCredit: GettyThe Peruvian is hoping to help the Clarets back to the Premier LeagueCredit: GettyThe right-back’s aunt is world-renowned supermodel Helena ChristensenCredit: GettySonne, 24, is the nephew of supermodel Helena Christensen and played more than 100 times in Denmark’s top flight. After his reveal on New Year’s Eve, he said: “I’m super excited!”To be here and experience the club and the facilities . . . it’s mind-blowing. “It’s a massive club with great ambitions.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”The ambition is to go back up to the Premier League and I will fight to make that happen.”Christensen, 56, is a former Miss Universe Denmark. She won the crown in 1986, going on to represent Denmark at the Miss Universe pageant later that year. Helena launched a pro modelling career and has since fronted magazines including Vogue, Elle, and Tatler. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSShe is also a former Victoria’s Secret Angel.Christensen was even named as one of the Magnificent Seven alongside Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Elle McPherson in the mid-1990s.Bungling Burnley academy manager quits after sending bombshell message slamming ‘mad’ and ‘lazy’ players to WRONG groupSonne has previously followed in his aunt’s footsteps, modelling for Gucci and Armani.He said: ” I had a period where I did it a lot [of modelling]. “I did some really cool things abroad with some of the top brands that we young people buy for a lot of money. “So it was a lot of fun trying to be on that side of it all.”Christensen is a former Victoria’s Secret AngelCredit: GettyShe was also crowned Miss Universe DenmarkCredit: ReutersSonne joins Burnley with the club third in the Championship, three points off Sheffield United in second. Parker’s side are hoping for an instant return to the Premier League after relegation last season. More

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      Wayne Rooney set to be handed immediate return to work in mega-money deal after Man Utd legend axed by Plymouth

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      WAYNE ROONEY is set to be offered an instant return back to work, Sun Online can reveal.The England legend left Plymouth Argyle after a disastrous run as manager which saw the Championship side rooted to the bottom of the League.Wayne Rooney is looking for a new job after being axed by Plymouth ArgyleCredit: GettyThe 39-year-old leaves the Pilgrims with the club bottom of the ChampionshipCredit: PAA statement issued on Tuesday morning revealed that Rooney and the south-west club had agreed to part ways.But the former Man Utd and Everton striker isn’t going to be twiddling his thumbs for long.Sources have told Sun Online Rooney is likely to be offered a mega-bucks deal to work as a football pundit, having impressed during screen stints on ITV and Sky.A TV insider said: “Wayne is regarded as one of the best pundits in the business. READ MORE ON ROONEY”He’s very, very knowledgeable about the game. “And even though he’s actually quite a shy person, he really feels at home in a TV studio.The insider added: “It’s been a rubbish end to 2024 for Wayne, but he’s not going to be out of work for long. “He’ll be offered punditry work straight away and there’s interest from Sky in a potential long-term deal to tie him down as a pundit.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”Wayne still harbours ambitions of making it as a manager.”But, like Gary Neville, it might end up being the case that he can carve out a more successful and lucrative career as a pundit rather than as a manager in the dugout.”Rooney’s family arriving at Old Trafford for the Newcastle gameBefore accepting the Argyle job, Rooney had been working as a pundit on a string of channels. He would regularly discuss and review England and Manchester United games.He also regularly appeared alongside Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Roy Keane on The Overlap.Rooney left Championship strugglers Plymouth by mutual agreement on Tuesday. Wazza has already proved himself as a TV punditCredit: AFPWayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.The 39-year-old former England captain oversaw just four league wins and suffered 13 defeats in 23 Championship games after taking charge of the Pilgrims in May.He leaves with the club marooned at the foot of the division.Rooney arrived at Home Park four months after being sacked by Birmingham City following an 83-day spell in charge that brought nine defeats in 15 games.He and his players were booed following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Oxford United – their sixth defeat in a nine-game winless run that began in early November.Rooney defiantly said he did not take criticism “personally” after that loss.But it was enough to end the tenure of the man who was lauded as “the perfect candidate to provide the exciting and attacking brand of football” when appointed.READ MORE SUN STORIESUnder Rooney – who set scoring records for England and Manchester United during his decorated playing career – Plymouth have dropped to the bottom of the table, scored the joint fewest goals in the second tier and have conceded more than any other club in England’s top four divisions.Assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Simon Ireland have also departed the club. 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      ‘This is awkward’ joke fans as Wayne Rooney front and centre of Plymouth’s 2025 calendar… but axed on New Year’s Eve

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      FANS declared “this is awkward” after seeing Wayne Rooney star on Plymouth’s 2025 calendar following his brutal New Year’s Eve axe.Wazza and the Championship club declared earlier today that they’ve parted ways after just six months.Fans were left bemused after spotting axed Wayne Rooney on Plymouth Argyle’s 2025 calendarWazza and the Championship strugglers parted ways on New Year’s EveCredit: PAThe mutual decision came with Plymouth rooted to the bottom of the Championship table.Argyle are on a winless run of nine games, four points off safety.And both the club and Rooney issued positive statements following their split on the final day of 2024.But fans still managed to spot something awkward on their official Plymouth Argyle calendar for next year.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe popular item was given and received as a Christmas gift among many supporters of the club.And following the news of Rooney’s departure, they were all left amazed to see his picture plastered all over the month of January.One fan hilariously declared: “Well this is awkward.”Another boomed: “They put him in January and he didn’t even survive that long!”Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne noted: “The calendar curse strikes again.”Another added: “Good job they didn’t give him December.”Wayne Rooney hits out at speculation he took mystery woman back to his flat and says ‘it’s simply not true’Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.Announcing Rooney’s exit today, his former club said: “Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and Head Coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.”Departing the club with Rooney will be Assistant Head Coach Mike Phelan and first team coach Simon Ireland.”First team coach Kevin Nancekivell and Club Captain Joe Edwards will lead the team for our Sky Bet Championship match against Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Daryl Flahavan will continue as Goalkeeping coach.”We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.”The club will be making no further comment at this stage with updates on our new first team management staff in due course.”Rooney himself released a statement too, adding: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with. “Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as Head Coach and I wish them all the best for the future.”To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support.”Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.”The club are four points adrift from safety More

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      Wayne Rooney’s too young to be written off and too strong-willed to give up but a step back could be a wise move for now

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      LEAVING Plymouth after barely six months will hurt Wayne Rooney.After four jobs in as many years and a win rate of barely 25 per cent across them, doubters will ask if his managerial career could be over at the age of 39 – before most bosses even take their first match in a dugout.Wayne Rooney has parted ways with Plymouth Argyle but it is not the end of his managerial journeyCredit: GettyYet anyone who has spent time with Rooney will tell you that he has a drive and determination to be as good a boss as he was a player.And while that may look an unlikely aspiration at this stage, very few people have made money betting against Rooney over the past two decades.In truth, Rooney has made things hard for himself with the jobs he has taken at the start of his time as a manager.Admittedly, openings normally come for two reasons – because the previous manager has been a success or, more frequently, that they are inheriting a dumpster fire.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFor Rooney, taking the gig at a cash-strapped Derby, facing the almost certain inevitability of a relegation-causing points deduction, was hardly the act of someone who wanted an easy life.Rooney led the Rams from six points adrift of the Championship field to a nominal last-day survival act in his four months at the helm, only for the EFL to impose that anticipated 21-point penalty to send the club through the trapdoor.It was not Rooney’s fault, by any means – he walked into a mess, cleaned it up, only for a giant bucket of trash to be thrown over the floor after he’d finished.Unsurprisingly, probably aware of the looming offer from DC United in the MLS, he quit Pride Park before his move across the Atlantic.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAway from home and family, Rooney led a lonely off-field existence at his rented mansion 45 minutes outside the US capital.But his enthusiasm was crystal clear – as was his recognition that this was the start of a long journey.Wayne Rooney hits out at speculation he took mystery woman back to his flat and says ‘it’s simply not true’When he spoke to SunSport ahead of taking charge of the MLS All-Star team to face Arsenal in July 2023, Rooney was bright-eyed and focused.He said: “I know I am not where I want to be as a finished article but these next few years are really important in terms of me getting to grips with the role and getting the best out of myself and eventually out of the players.“I’ve had to learn about handling languages, culture, religion and understanding all those different scenarios which could happen if you manage at the top level and which you will have to deal with.“Patience is key, understanding that you are going to lose games, that you are not going to win every game.“It’s about staying calm in those situations, to figure them out and face those difficult moments and get through them.”Four months later, only three days after leaving DC, Rooney was unveiled at ambitious, Tom Brady co-owned Birmingham, with a mission to take them back into the Prem.It did not work. It was a bad fit, despite Rooney bringing in Ashley Cole – whose next job was on the England coaching staff – and John O’Shea to help him.Just two wins in 15 games was a horrible record but even the best managers can have jobs which are disasters.Bobby Robson, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini and Arsene Wenger all had early setbacks and they didn’t do too badly.Yet taking the Plymouth job in the summer, after they had survived in the Championship by the skin of their teeth, was Rooney once again walking into a perilous situation.Knowingly, true. But once again fighting with one hand tied behind his back.Perhaps what he needs now is to take a step back. Not from management, but from the frontline role.To work as an assistant to a seasoned, wily old hand. To have an input and key position but not be directly in the line of fire.Rooney is too young to be dismissed. Too strong-willed to accept it is all over.And at some point, surely, he will be offered the job that he cannot possibly turn down – back at boyhood club Everton.READ MORE SUN STORIESFor now, he must lick his wounds. Repair his confidence. Maybe, for a few months, sit in a TV studio to analyse and entertain.And be ready to come back – better and even more focused on proving what he truly believes to be his destiny. Do not write him off.Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again. More

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      Premier League table since Ruben Amorim took over shows Man Utd in real danger of going down for first time in 51 years

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      THE Premier League table since Ruben Amorim arrived shows Manchester United are in serious danger of relegation.Last night’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle left the new manager admitting a battle to avoid the drop is now a “possibility”.Ruben Amorim admitted relegation is a possible dangerCredit: PAThe table is grim reading for Amorim, with Man Utd 14th and seven points above the dreaded relegation zone heading into the new year.Erik ten Hag oversaw the club’s worst ever start to a Prem season when he was axed after nine league games.But Amorim has failed to turn things around and when only taking into account results during his reign, Man Utd would be 17th in the league.He has picked up a woeful seven points from eight games – two wins, one draw and five losses.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Red Devils have scored just nine goals and conceded 14 in this period.Overall, only Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich are enduring worse form.At the other end of the table, Nottingham Forest are at the top of the league.But United’s horror run arguably remains the biggest surprise and yesterday’s beating by Newcastle meant they lost a third consecutive league game at Old Trafford for the first time since 1979.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThey have suffered defeat on six occasions in December alone in all competitions.That is the most of losses in a single month for United since September 1930.Manchester United vs Newcastle: Player Ratings RevealedThe damming stats continue as 14th is the lowest league position the club has been in at this stage since 1989.United were last relegated at the end of the 1973/74 campaign – just six years after lifting the European Cup.Four teams in Premier League history have gone down after sitting in 14th at the turn of the year, with Leeds in the 2022/23 season being the last.And with the current crisis worsening with every game, Amorim may have to channel his inner Sam Allardyce to get them out of trouble.Asked about a fight to avoid the Championship, Amorim said: “I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans.”It is also my fault. The team is not improving. It is a little bit lost in this moment and it is a bit embarrassing to be Manchester United coach and lose a lot of games.”I think people are tired of excuses at this club. This club needs a shock.”United were last relegated in 1973/74 with club legend Denis Law, seen being congratulated on the right. scoring at Old Trafford in a win for Man City in a loss that helped seal their fateCredit: Rex More

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      Plymouth statement in full as Wayne Rooney AXED on New Year’s Eve and Man Utd legend’s manager career in ruin

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      PLYMOUTH ARGYLE have released a statement confirming Wayne Rooney has been axed.The Manchester United and England legend has departed as manager with the Pilgrims bottom of the Championship.Wayne Rooney has been axed by Plymouth ArgyleCredit: RexThe club announced the news in a statement, which read: “Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and head coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.”Departing the club with Rooney will be assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Simon Ireland.”First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will lead the team for our Championship match against Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Daryl Flahavan will continue as goalkeeping coach.”We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The club will be making no further comment at this stage with updates on our new first team management staff in due course.”Rooney said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with.“Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future.“To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support.“Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.”Wayne Rooney furious after Plymouth Argyle loss to Norwich A shocking nine-match run without a win ended Rooney’s time at the Pilgrims. The 39-year-old guided the club to just four victories from 23 games in the league.They conceded more goals (51) and scored the fewest (22) in the division.Argyle are four points adrift from Championship safety.Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.Rooney has now left his fourth job in four years.He begun at Derby County and managed to save them from relegation to the third tier in the 2020/21 campaign.But following a huge 21-point deduction due to administration, they went down the following season.Rooney then moved to the US and took over a struggling DC United.After a promising start, he was unable to guide them into the play-offs and he mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the 2023 season.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe then returned to the Championship with Birmingham but had a nightmare, lasting just 15 games before being sacked.Rooney then penned a three-year deal with Argyle in May, but he has been unable to take the team tipped for relegation away from the drop zone.The club are four points adrift from safety More

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      Wayne Rooney axed by Plymouth after woeful run of form with Man Utd legend’s men bottom of Championship

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      WAYNE Rooney has parted ways with Plymouth Argyle.The ex-Manchester United star, 39, only took over at the start of the season but the Pilgrims are rooted to the bottom of the Championship table.Rooney is set to leave the club, The Sun understandsCredit: RexPlymouth are rooted to the bottom of the Championship tableCredit: RexWayne and Coleen at Nordoff Robbins’ Legends of Football at JW Marriott Grosvenor House in OctoberCredit: Getty ImagesPlymouth have not won since a narrow 1-0 victory over Portsmouth on November 5.They have since embarked on a run of nine games without a win, including heavy losses 4-0 at Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City respectively.Plymouth have also earned just two points on the road this season.The club currently sit 24th in the league with just 18 points from 23 matches and are four points adrift from safety.Read more footballA statement from the club today said: “Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and Head Coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.”Departing the club with Rooney will be Assistant Head Coach Mike Phelan and first team coach Simon Ireland.”First team coach Kevin Nancekivell and Club Captain Joe Edwards will lead the team for our Sky Bet Championship match against Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Daryl Flahavan will continue as Goalkeeping coach.”We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.Most read in Football”The club will be making no further comment at this stage with updates on our new first team management staff in due course.”It comes two days after his side’s 2-0 loss to relegation rivals Oxford United on Sunday.Wayne Rooney’s statementWAYNE Rooney also today issued a statement after leaving the club.He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with. “Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as Head Coach and I wish them all the best for the future.”To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.”I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support.”Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.”Wayne Rooney hits out at speculation he took mystery woman back to his flat and says ‘it’s simply not true’Earlier this month, Argyle chairman Simon Hallett publicly backed Rooney.The ex-England legend had also recently appointed Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No2 Mike Phelan to replace outgoing assistant Pete Shuttleworth.It marks the latest setback in a stuttering managerial career for Rooney.It is a far cry from his playing days, which saw him amass 120 caps for his country and become England’s all-time leading scorer with 53 goals before the record was taken by Harry Kane.He also scored 253 goals for United on his way to winning the Premier League five times, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup three times and Club World Cup.Rooney joined Derby County as a player in January 2020, before being named as part of a four-person interim management team in November.The ex-England man officially retired from playing in January 2021 when he took sole charge of the club.Derby were relegated to League One at the end of the following season under Rooney’s leadership, but had been in administration throughout the entire campaign and suffered a 21-point deduction.He resigned from the club in June 2022.Rooney then returned to the MLS with DC United the following month, winning his first game in charge.But his side picked up just nine points from their last 14 games and they mutually parted ways at the end of the season.The ex-England captain then joined Birmingham City in October 2023 with the club in sixth place in the Championship.Martin Lipton on Rooney’s Plymouth tenureBY MARTIN LIPTONIt’s finally come to an end. His departure from Plymouth is no surprise.In fact, it’s been there screaming, on the wall, for a few weeks now. The question is, what next? He really believed he was going to be a manager, he felt he was cut out for it. But at Derby he had less than a 30% win ratio, worse everywhere he’s been since – at DC United, a miserable time with just two wins in 15 games at Birmingham and now leaving Plymouth with the Devon club staring relegation fully in the face.It’s tough. Rooney really cares, there’s no doubt about it, I spoke to him in the US 18 months ago, his enjoyment in the job was clear, he was really dedicated to making it work. But it doesn’t seem to work.Maybe it’s a bit of Glen Hoddle syndrome. When the former Spurs midfielder walked onto a training ground as a manager, he was the best player there still. It’s the same with Rooney I suspect. Certainly lower down the leagues he will be much, much better – that was the level of talent he possessed.If you’re that good how do you make limited players, play, when they can’t do things that come naturally to you.I still think there’s a chance for Rooney, it isn’t the end. It seems almost inevitable that at some point he will be handed the reins to his boyhood club, the chance to manage Everton. But for now it seems a long way away.This will be brutal, this will be hard, it will hurt.Let’s hope for Rooney he doesn’t let his own inner demons, the ones he’s talked about in the past, descend on him now. That he can cope with this adversity, come out firing and prove that next time, he has what it takes.But he was sacked after winning just two of his 15 games in charge.It also comes after Rooney hit out at speculation he took a mystery woman back to his flat, insisting “it’s simply not true.”Trolls claimed a video posted on X showed him letting an unidentified woman into his luxury Plymouth pad.But he hit out and explained they were actually a couple who had given the football legend a lift home and his son was present at the time.Posting on his Instagram stories, the angry football icon said: “I am aware of a video circulating online.”The video shows a man and woman looking around my apartment.”The couple kindly gave me a lift home and were in there at the same time as my son who was visiting.”Footage is from last summer, it is annoying that at least one online newspaper has chosen to edit the footage to make it appear has though a woman entered the apartment on her own.”That is simply not true.”In the video, Wazza – wearing a grey tracksuit – unlocks a door to his rented luxury apartment in Plymouth as an unidentified woman stands waiting.The club are four points adrift from safetyWayne, Coleen and their kids in matching Christmas pyjamasCredit: InstagramWayne Rooney yesterday hit out at speculation he took a mystery woman back to his flatCredit: TwitterRooney is then filmed walking past a huge flatscreen TV, with the camera later panning around to show a kitchen and dining table.A woman can be heard saying “What time does it end?” while a man holds a blue baseball cap saying “this is the hat that he wears all the time”.Another video shows the guests looking around Rooney’s bedroom and huge ensuite bathroom, with the girl saying “Wow” while the man says “Oh my f***ing god”.A club spokesman confirmed the apartment videos were not recent as Rooney spent Saturday evening with his team in a hotel near Oxford’s ground preparing for the game.Rooney took over at Home Park in May, succeeding Ian Foster.It was the Man Utd legend’s first managerial role since he was sacked by Birmingham City in January.The 39-year-old initially guided Plymouth into mid-table by the start of October.But the Pilgrims’ stuttering form – especially on the road – saw them drop into the relegation spots just before the festive period.Plymouth’s away record is the worst in the entire Football League having taken just two points from 13 games.A 4-0 Boxing Day drubbing at Coventry City left Plymouth bottom of the table.And they followed it up with another defeat on the road to Oxford.The board decided to part ways with Rooney following the defeat, just days after he insisted he was the man to lead them forward.Rooney guided Plymouth to victory in just 4 of his 23 league games at the helm.His team have leaked 51 goals, the most in the division, and last won on November 5.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe axing also comes after Wayne and wife Coleen spent weeks apart while she took part in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity,.It saw Coleen take part in Bushtucker Trials and living in the jungle camp.Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.Rooney’s side are four points adrift of safety at the halfway mark of the seasonCredit: RexRooney had a glittering playing career with Everton, Man United and EnglandCredit: Carl Recine More