Wayne Rooney happy to go against the grain as he forges his management style

For those looking in from the outside, Wayne Rooney never seemed the most likely to transition from player to manager following a mostly glittering on-field career.

A highly publicised personal life combined with lazy stereotypes about both people from areas like Croxteth in Liverpool where he is from, and about footballers in general, helped to make Rooney one of the most common punchlines for a cheap joke over the past 20 years.

But to think Derby County appointed England and Manchester United’s record goal-scorer as a publicity stunt to cash in on the Rooney brand would be to completely overlook a football brain that underpinned his undeniably impressive playing career.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson’s management at United, Rooney was capable of playing upfront, in wide areas or in a deeper role depending on what was needed from him. Five Premier League titles, three League Cups and a Champions League winners’ medal were ample proof that he could be both flexible and successful.

Rooney started his coaching badges whilst he was still in his twenties and by the time Louis Van Gaal arrived at Old Trafford in 2014, the man appointed captain by the Dutchman would often be involved in tactical meetings as his opinion became highly valued.

His appearance on Monday Night Football in February 2018 gave one of the first public insights into how one of the greatest players of his generation thought about the game, and his popular column in The Times has suggested football is far more than simply a career for the 35-year-old.

The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented Rooney completing his UEFA A coaching license – the qualification that is needed to coach second-tier clubs in Europe – and after initially being part of a four-man management team selected to replace Phillip Cocu as Derby won just one of their first 11 games of the season, Rooney has made the Pride Park dugout his own in recent weeks.

So far, Derby have collected 32 points from Rooney’s 19 games in sole charge, helping them climb out of the relegation zone and into mid table and resulting in the temporary manager securing a permanent two-year deal in   mid-January that officially brought his playing career to an end.

An obvious comparison to make with Rooney the manager is his former England team-mate Frank Lampard. The recently departed Chelsea boss oversaw a solitary season in charge of the Rams in 2018/19, leading them to the Championship play-off final before departing for Stamford Bridge.

The fact that the two played with each other for England is effectively where the similarities end though, as while Lampard attempted to mould Derby into a possession-heavy, expansive side with the help of talented loanees such as Harry Wilson and Mason Mount, Rooney’s focus has been on creating a stubborn defensive unit that opponents find difficult to break down.

Lampard’s approach was one that would be deemed more typical of a young, recently-retired player taking their early steps in management, particularly over the last decade or so as the identities of more and more managers have been built on possession of the ball – it was idealistic, relying on creativity in attack to account for weaknesses at the back.

Rooney has focused instead on how Derby can best pick up results to avoid playing a major part in a relegation battle come the end of the season. His Derby side are happy to sit deep and block passing lanes out of possession before playing direct to striker Colin Kazim-Richards as a focal point to start attacks.

An area that Rooney has made a remarkable amount of progress in is the defensive organisation he has introduced to a side that was leaking goals at an alarming rate under Cocu.

Derby conceded 16 goals in the Dutchman’s eleven games in charge at the start of this season, keeping just a single clean sheet in the process. Since Rooney took sole temporary charge of the Rams ahead of a 1-1 home draw against Wycombe Wanderers, they have conceded 13 times in 19 games and kept an impressive 9 clean sheets.

Another of the improved aspects of Derby’s performances that would uncharitably be labelled as one of ‘the basics’ is their effectiveness in both defending and scoring from set-pieces.

Last season under Cocu, Derby scored just 12 goals from set-piece situations – only three teams in the Championship scored fewer – and conceded a below average 16 times from them.

An innovative new corner routine that involves creating an overload of bodies at the back post has already contributed to a number of goals in recent weeks and since Rooney became manager Derby have conceded just twice from set-pieces.

Another manager who is often credited with stiffening defences and capitalising on set-plays is Mick McCarthy. The former Republic of Ireland player and manager has certainly managed to make an impact since being appointed Cardiff City manager in January, with the Bluebirds currently on a nine-game unbeaten run that has catapulted them into play-off contention.

On Tuesday night, Rooney will take his Derby side to the Cardiff City Stadium for what is likely to be one of the toughest tests of his short managerial career so far.

Whilst many sides have struggled to break down the Rams’ well-organised defence in recent weeks, Cardiff will have no qualms about playing directly to Kieffer Moore.

Seven goals in his last nine games makes the Welsh international striker one of the most in-form players in the Championship, and with McCarthy changing to a 3-4-3 formation in recent weeks, he has had plenty of service from wide areas.

If Rooney is keen to continue to add to Derby’s arsenal of set-piece routines, Cardiff are an ideal side to take a closer look at.

The Bluebirds have scored a staggering 21 goals from set-pieces – 8 more than any other side in the division – and thanks to the consistently good delivery of Harry Wilson, the gargantuan long-throws of Will Vaulks, and the aerial prowess of Moore, Aden Flint and Sean Morrison, they always have a goal threat.

A 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough – in which Morrison scored from a Vaulks throw – saw Cardiff drop out of the play-off places, but the win at Bournemouth last midweek was the clearest indication yet that they are serious promotion contenders with McCarthy at the helm.

Although Rooney and McCarthy will be in competition on Tuesday night, it would be no exaggeration to suggest they are cut from the same cloth in managerial terms from what we have witnessed so far.

Should the one-time England golden boy secure a victory in South Wales it would be further proof he could be set for an equally impressive career in the management game.

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