Premier League icon Wayne Rooney has revealed that one Manchester United legend caught him by complete surprise with what he did in his post-playing career.
The 39-year-old legendary former Manchester United striker has been committed to his role in punditry now after the last setback in his stop-start managerial career.
United and England legend Wayne Rooney was axed from Plymouth Argyle last December after a poor start to the 2024-25 Championship season with the Pilgrims.
Rooney was appointed the head coach of Plymouth Argyle in May 2024 and he suffered 13 defeats in 23 Championship matches before his exit from the club.
The former United captain’s return to management at Plymouth had come after his previous setback at Birmingham City, which ended with his sacking in January 2024.
Man Utd and England icon Wayne Rooney now reveals his feelings on Paul Scholes’ post-playing career trajectory
Wayne Rooney had dabbled in punditry with the likes of BBC and Sky Sports in the aftermath of his legendary playing career and his pursuit of becoming a manager.
Paul Scholes has previously had caretaker and interim managerial spells at Salford City, with his only major role in the dugout coming with Oldham Athletic in 2019.
The 50-year-old ex-United star took charge of Oldham Athletic in February 2019 for a short-lived spell, which came to an end in March 2019 after only seven matches.
However, Scholes has remained an ever-present figure in football media and the United legend has featured on The Overlap and as a pundit for TNT Sport as well.
Rooney was asked if he was ‘surprised’ with any of his ex-teammates’ trajectories after their careers and United’s all-time leading scorer singled out Scholes.
“Scholesy, he never really did interviews, Scholesy,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“And so I thought we would never see Scholes again after he stopped playing.”
Wayne Rooney reacts to Man Utd legends Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand in the punditry and football media world
Rooney, much like he did with Scholes, was surprised that former United teammate Roy Keane became a media personality after his remarkable playing career.
Roy Keane has been a staple addition for Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage and the United legend has featured on ITV for their coverage of international matches.
“And then, yeah, maybe Roy as well, maybe,” Rooney continued.
Unlike Scholes and Keane, Rooney feels that former United and England teammate Rio Ferdinand has entered the career path that suited him after his prolific career.
“But no, I think Rio is doing exactly what we thought he would do,” he added.
“Everywhere he goes, he’s got his cameras with him. So, yeah, no, I don’t think there’s, I think apart from that, everyone’s pretty normal.”
Rio Ferdinand left TNT Sports after the end of the Champions League final in May and the 46-year-old United legend has been working on his podcast brand.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
