Manchester United and England great Wayne Rooney ended his illustrious playing career on Friday to take up the job of managing Championship side Derby on a full-time basis.
Derby confirmed the 35-year-old former forward had agreed a permanent deal until 2023, having succeeded Phillip Cocu on an interim basis in November.
The club statement confirmed that in accepting the manager’s role, Rooney had “elected to call time on his illustrious playing career to fully focus on his job”.
Rooney was in charge for nine matches as interim boss, winning three and drawing four.
“We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Wayne Rooney as our new manager,” said Derby County chief executive officer Stephen Pearce.
His entry into management though brings curtains down a great career that saw him become the all-time leading goalscorer for Manchester United and England.
He may have taken up a new role but he will be missed on the pitch for the sheer magic he produced on it.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Rooney’s retirement.
Congratulations on a magnificent playing career, @WayneRooney 👏
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 15, 2021
All the best in management 👊 pic.twitter.com/SP1ORnzJxV
A captain.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 15, 2021
A goalscorer.
A legend.
And now, 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿.
Happy retirement, @WayneRooney — thank you for the memories ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZGxe1xr3tR
Quite the #PL career...
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 15, 2021
👕 491 appearances
⚽️ 208 goals
🅰️ 103 assists
🏆 5 titles
🥇 1 Player of the Season pic.twitter.com/SVsFjh95eW
🔴 Wayne Rooney ends his illustrious playing career...
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 15, 2021
Thanks for the memories, @WayneRooney! 👋#UCL | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/CXOne1vKng
A #ThreeLions legend. Congratulations on a fantastic playing career, @WayneRooney!
— England (@England) January 15, 2021
Wishing you all the best in management 👊 pic.twitter.com/5vXyBFbJqr
🤩 Thank you for blessing football with magical skills and golazos galore, @WayneRooney. We hope your managerial career is every bit as exceptional as your playing one was 🤞 pic.twitter.com/R06590G6yw
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) January 15, 2021
In my opinion the greatest striker England’s ever seen 🐐🐐🐐#Wazza #HappyRetirement @WayneRooney pic.twitter.com/03PdsDoZUk
— Joleon Lescott (@JoleonLescott) January 15, 2021
One of the greatest to ever do it.
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 15, 2021
Congratulations on an incredible playing career, @WayneRooney! Wishing you all the best in management 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HzT3uAmNI6
One of our all-time great footballers has retired. It’s never an easy moment for any player but @WayneRooney has enjoyed a truly wonderful career on the field. Here’s hoping he’s successful off the pitch with @dcfcofficial. Well played and good luck. 👍🏻
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 15, 2021
This play sums up Wayne Rooney perfectly.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 15, 2021
One of a kind 👊 pic.twitter.com/QNbHNfWchu
Wayne Rooney officially retires from playing to take his first job in management.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 15, 2021
This goal in the Manchester derby will never be forgotten 😱
(🎥 via @ManUtd_ID)
pic.twitter.com/ileg3U9wQq
x5 Premier League
— utdreport (@utdreport) January 15, 2021
x1 Champions League
x1 Europa League
x1 FA Cup
x3 League Cup
x1 Club World Cup
x4 Community Shield
Wayne Rooney was a serial trophy lifter 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XV5MpQPNny
Wayne Rooney's career honours:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 15, 2021
🏆 5 Premier League
🏆 4 Community Shield
🏆 3 League Cup
🏆 FA Cup
🏆 Champions League
🏆 Europa League
🏆 Club World Cup
🏆 2 PFA Young Player of the Year
🏆 PFA Players' Player of the Year
🏆 PL Player of the Season
An incredible career. pic.twitter.com/o6u2T8nixN
Wayne Rooney: one of the very best to ever do it. A legend.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 15, 2021
Wayne Rooney’s first and last career goals were both late last minute winners.
— David. (@Rooney_esque) January 15, 2021
Says a lot about what he was as a player. Always had a never-say-die attitude and delivered when his team needed him the most. Legend. pic.twitter.com/rzmGMNIUsK
Wayne Rooney was really the player that I started my football journey with. Now he’s retiring. This must be what those who grew up idolising any one of Best, Robson, Cantona, etc all felt when they called it a day. Such a strange feeling. 💔
— Josh (@UtdJL) January 15, 2021
Wayne Rooney retires from playing. Leading scorer every for Man United and England, 5 league titles, the Champions League. One of the best ever. Absolutely ludicrous you'll get people asking "what if he could have done more." A genuine legend.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) January 15, 2021
(With AFP inputs)