Blackburn Rovers ‘will get what they deserve’ with Wayne Rooney appointment
Wayne Rooney taking the managerial role at Blackburn Rovers will end badly for the struggling side, Simon Jordan has warned.
The Lancashire club have already had to change managers once this season, after John Eustace left to take over at Derby County back in February.
His replacement, Valerien Ismael, is yet to have much success, winning just one of his eight games since taking charge at Ewood Park.
As a result, that has already led to speculation of another potential managerial change at Blackburn, with one intriguing name in the hotseat.
Wayne Rooney touted for managerial return
Earlier this week, it was claimed that Ismael’s job is already under pressure at Blackburn with Rooney a contender to replace him should he leave, though that has been played down elsewhere.
It has so far been a difficult managerial career for the former Man United and England striker, who prior to this season had struggled in spells with the likes of DC United, Derby County and Birmingham City.
Having returned to the Championship for another crack at management at the start of the current campaign, Rooney left Plymouth just before the turn of the year with the club bottom of the second-tier.
All of that means Jordan feels Blackburn would be making a significant mistake if they were to bring the 39-year-old to Ewood Park.
| Wayne Rooney managerial record | Total (as per Transfermarkt) |
| Played | 177 |
| Won | 46 |
| Drawn | 44 |
| Lost | 87 |
After being asked on talkSPORT for his thoughts on those links, the former Crystal Palace chairman simply said: “They’ll get what they deserve.”
Jim White then suggested Rooney’s appearances as a pundit on TV indicate he will get it right in management at some point.
In response to that, Jordan added: “Just out of curiosity, why? You’ve had four jobs and none of them he’s set the heather on fire.
“DC United was not a great success, Birmingham was a disaster and Plymouth was a disaster. When we sat in the studio around about this time last year and I could barely contain my mirth at the nonsense coming out of the Plymouth owner’s mouth, I told you this would be a disaster.
“Did he make them better? Were they better? Were Birmingham better? Any other footballer or football manager – with due respect to Wayne – this would not be a conversation.
“I’m not suggesting that Wayne Rooney doesn’t deserve credit for wanting to continue to do it, but we should be praising the acumen and at this moment I’m not sure what acumen he’s shown in the dugout that proves this is even worthy of a conversation.”
Blackburn Rovers must steer clear of Man United icon
Football Insider Verdict
When Rooney took charge of Birmingham they were in the Championship play-off places after an excellent start to the 2023/24 season under John Eustace.
Under the former Man United and England striker though, the Blues plummeted down the table and were of course relegated to League One.
Given Blackburn themselves were in the play-offs when Eustace left earlier this season, there is no reason not to suspect a similar thing could happen if Rooney was now appointed there as well.
With an understandable and justifiable anger from the club’s fanbase at those in charge at Ewood Park after years of turmoil under the current owners, this would not be an easy role for him to take on either.
It is therefore hard to see how this would work out, especially given the fanbase at any club who appoints Rooney next will be very wary after how things have gone for him in his previous roles.
All of that means Blackburn should surely be staying away from this appointment, although that does not mean there should be no pressure on Ismael either if results do not improve quickly.