Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United legend, recently took on the role of manager at Plymouth Argyle after being sacked by Birmingham in January. However, his debut as boss got off to a disastrous start with a comical own goal that perfectly summed up the team’s struggles.
Rooney’s appointment was met with criticism from some supporters, and he needed to win them over. Unfortunately, his opening game of the Championship season against Sheffield Wednesday ended in a crushing 4-0 defeat.
The match started with striker Jamal Lowe opening the scoring for Sheffield Wednesday on the 35th minute. But things went from bad to worse for Plymouth after the break. Lowe accidentally headed the ball into Plymouth defender Brendan Galloway’s face, causing it to bounce into the net for an own goal.
The laughable own goal seemed to epitomize Rooney’s first game in charge, with Josh Windass and Michael Smith adding to the rout. Fans were quick to react to the result, with many expressing their disappointment and concern. One fan sarcastically commented, “Wayne Rooney’s return to the Championship managing Plymouth begins in style…” Another expressed sympathy, saying, “Feel bad at this point.” There were even jokes about him being sacked the next morning.
However, some fans defended Rooney, urging others to give him more time to turn things around. It’s clear that the new manager has a lot of work ahead of him to win over the fans and improve Plymouth’s performance on the pitch.
Rooney’s debut as Plymouth manager serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by former players transitioning into coaching roles. While his success as a player is unquestionable, managing a team requires a different set of skills and experience. It will be interesting to see how Rooney adapts to his new role and whether he can lead Plymouth to success in the Championship. Only time will tell if this rocky start is just a temporary setback or a sign of things to come.