John Rooney’s Ambitious Journey with Macclesfield

omidbasir- John Rooney is determined to pursue his ambition of managing at the highest possible level, and he aspires to embark on this journey with Macclesfield.

The 35-year-old, brother of former England captain Wayne Rooney, made headlines recently with Macclesfield’s remarkable FA Cup third-round upset against Crystal Palace. He is set to face another Premier League opponent when Brentford visits Moss Rose on Monday night.

Rooney’s managerial career began with a whirlwind start after he succeeded Robbie Savage in the Macclesfield dugout this past summer, following a season in which he contributed to the team that won the Northern Premier League title.

“I’m new to the management scene and I have ambitions to manage as high as I can,” Rooney stated. “If that wasn’t my ambition, I would be in the wrong role. I hope to propel Macclesfield toward our shared goals.

“We have a long journey ahead, but this is a club moving in the right direction. I want to manage at the highest possible level, and I hope that can be with this club.”

Rooney’s path to management began when he joined the former Macclesfield Town academy after being released by Everton. His playing career spanned several teams, including New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Chester, Wrexham, Barrow, and Stockport, before he returned to Moss Rose in 2023.

He expressed interest in the managerial position last summer when Savage was appointed but seized the opportunity to take charge when Savage left for Forest Green in July. “Did I think it would happen this fast? Probably not, but once the opportunity arose, I wanted to grasp it fully because you never know when another job might become available.”

While the FA Cup has drawn international attention to the Silkmen, Rooney’s primary focus is to ensure Macclesfield’s continued ascent within the league hierarchy. Since their victory over Palace, the team has won five out of six matches in the National League North, placing them in the playoff positions.

“We’ve taken everything in stride, and I haven’t paused to reflect on our achievements because we have other targets to pursue, and we need to keep pressing forward,” he remarked.

Rooney’s managerial journey, though still in its infancy, has already confronted him with a tragic task no manager should ever have to face. Ethan McLeod, a promising 21-year-old forward, tragically lost his life in a car accident while returning from a match in December. Rooney personally informed each player in the squad of the heartbreaking news.

Many of these players were previously his teammates, and he has expressed gratitude for their support during this transition. “Managing players I shared a locker room with last year can be challenging, but the lads have supported me, especially during times of slight dips in our performance. They’ve been incredible for me,” he said.