Wayne Rooney sets out Man Utd managerial ‘aim’ following Birmingham City sacking

Wayne Rooney has outlined his ambition to manage Manchester United or Everton within the next decade.

The 38-year-old is out of work after being sacked by Birmingham City last month. Rooney lasted just three months at St Andrew's, taking over from John Eustace in the play-off positions but leaving the Blues hovering above the bottom three.

His setback came following an underwhelming time at DC United where he failed to make a lasting impression. However, at Derby County, his first managerial role, Rooney earned credit for managing through a turbulent financial situation.

But he remains some distance from securing a top job in English or European football. Despite his mixed start to life in the dugout, the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer remains determined to reach the top - and plans an Old Trafford return within 10 years.

“At Derby, it was very difficult,” he said as a pundit for the BBC. “At DC, the players we brought in were free transfers, and at Birmingham, I never got the opportunity to bring players in, so it would be nice for me next time to go out and try to buy a player.

“Maybe it was the timing of when I went in (at Birmingham) when John Eustace was doing well. As I’ve said before, I don’t think the fans ever accepted me and I’m just disappointed I didn’t get to the transfer window because myself and the owners said we had to bring players in.

“To not have the opportunity to do that was my only disappointment. Of course (he would manage United). That’s the aim, that’s where you want to get to. Obviously, United, Everton, all these big jobs you want to try and do.

“But it’s a process I have got to go through the steps and get myself back on track. I want to get myself back into management to make sure in the next 10 years I’m hopefully in a position to go into one of the big jobs.”