Wayne Rooney’s Insight on Coaching and Personal Challenges

Wayne Rooney is currently under a lucrative contract with the BBC, prominently featuring on their flagship Premier League highlights show, ‘Match of the Day.’ He has also collaborated with Channel 4 and Amazon Prime.

Before participating in live broadcasts, Rooney requires an earpiece, which he insists must be fitted on the right side of his head. This preference stems from a medical condition; if the earpiece were placed on the left, he would struggle to interact effectively with presenters due to his hearing impairment. In a recent ‘Behind the Scenes’ video, Rooney shared with crew members, “Can I do it in this ear? I used to close the talkback. The problem is I’m deaf in my left ear. When it’s too loud, I struggle to hear what Kelly Cates or whoever is saying.”

The exact cause of Rooney’s hearing loss in his left ear remains unclear. However, he did sustain significant injuries in 2009, requiring 45 stitches after slipping on a luxury yacht in the French Riviera during a vacation.

At the time of his injury, Rooney was a stellar performer for Manchester United and the England national team, having spent 13 illustrious years at Old Trafford, where he scored 253 goals, won five Premier League titles, and secured a Champions League trophy.

Currently, Rooney observes Manchester United’s evolving landscape, particularly following the departure of Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim. The managerial responsibilities have transitioned from Darren Fletcher to Michael Carrick, who made a remarkable debut with a 2-0 derby victory against rivals City, despite three goals being disallowed for offside. Rooney remarked on ‘Match of the Day,’ “What a start for that man. There’s been a lot of talk this week, and it’s a start he couldn’t have dreamed of. That performance is the best I’ve seen from a Manchester United team in a long, long time.”

He commented on Carrick’s familiarity with the club’s culture, stating, “When you ask why Manchester United need ex-players back, it’s because Michael Carrick knows the club, knows the culture, knows the DNA of the football club, and you saw that today. They were absolutely outstanding.”

Rooney has previously indicated his willingness to join Carrick’s coaching staff should the opportunity arise. The 40-year-old has accumulated coaching experience with Derby, D.C. United, Birmingham, and Plymouth. He expressed enthusiasm about returning to Old Trafford, saying, “Of course I would. It’s a no-brainer. I’m not begging for a job here, just so everyone knows. If I was asked to go in, of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing.”

Carrick has brought in former United colleague Jonny Evans as part of his coaching team, alongside Steve Holland. Rooney emphasized the significance of having familiar faces within the club during challenging times, stating, “Having people who know the club, who care for the club, and understand what it takes to be a Manchester United player – that’s where the club needs to be.”

He added, “The club has lost its identity, it’s lost that family feel, if you like. This is an opportunity to bring that back, to restore the spirit of Manchester United to the football club.”

While Carrick has made a promising start, he faces a challenging upcoming fixture against table-topping Arsenal, with United positioned fifth in the Premier League, just one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool.