Wayne Rooneyâs surprise return to English football as a player-coach at Derby will shift attention to his post-playing future but the former England captain insists he still has plenty to offer on the pitch first.
Rooney will cut short his 18-month American adventure with DC United at the end of the MLS season to join Derby in January 2020.
The 33-year-oldâs player-coach status will allow him to build his credentials as a future manager under the tutelage of Phillip Cocu, but Rooney believes he can help fire the Rams into the Premier League on the pitch too.
âFirst and foremost Iâm a player and thatâs what my main focus is on,â said Rooney, who has agreed an 18-month deal with an option for a further season.
âAs Phillip says, itâs about learning that (coaching) role, but Iâm coming here to play and help the team and hopefully push for promotion.
âBeing out of the country for a short period of time, you want to come back and prove yourself again. Thatâs my sole focus at the minute.â
Rooney admitted his family situation was key to his desire to return to England two years ahead of schedule, but also indicated the opportunity to learn from Cocu was too good to turn down.
âThere were other clubs making offers and enquiring about me but I made the decision to come here and that was it, I wasnât going to go back on my decision,â Rooney said.
âThe opportunity to come back to England and play, but also to take up a coaching role with the club and work under Phillip, was too great for me to turn down.â
Cocu said he was excited to work with a player of Rooneyâs quality and experience, and the Dutchman said he was ready to pass on the lessons he received at a similar stage of his career when then PSV Eindhoven boss Guus Hiddink began to give him pointers for his post-playing days.
âIn this period you start to look at the game a little bit differently than as a player and Iâm sure we, not only me but our staff, can help him in this period.â
Rooney has seen a number of his former England team-mates move into management of late, most recently Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Indeed, Lampard guided Derby to the Championship play-off final as manager last season before leaving for Chelsea, and Rooneyâs arrival alongside that of Cocu continues owner Mel Morrisâ approach of appointing high-profile names in pursuit of returning the club to the Premier League.
Though DC United will allow Rooney to leave two years ahead of schedule without demanding a transfer fee, the commitment in wages is still considerable for Derby.
Morris said the deal to sign Rooney would benefit Derby both on and off the pitch, and said the contract had already led to a ârecord-breaking sponsorship dealâ with the clubâs existing shirt sponsor 32Red, which could be key to satisfying Financial Fair Play rules.
While no direct link was confirmed, it is notable that Rooneyâs squad number at Pride Park will be 32.
âI think the number is not a big deal, whatever it is.â
Rooneyâs desire to move into management has been apparent for some time and he said he was progressing well with his coaching badges, which he expects to have completed by the time he arrives at Pride Park in January.
Rooney said he used to spend time with Ryan Giggs when the now Wales boss was analysing opponents for Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United, and has spent time talking to his managers and coaches at both Everton and then DC United about how to set up teams and prepare for matches.
He was coy when asked what he had learned, saying: âI think the important thing is to learn from coaches what not to do. I think thatâs more important than learning what to do.â
But asked for the best bit of advice he had received, he singled out something he hopes can lead him to further success both as a player and beyond.
âI always remember Sir Alex Ferguson saying, the hardest thing to do in life is to work hard,â he said. âI think itâs true, no matter what you do. Whether itâs on football or youâve got a day job in an office, the most difficult thing to do is to stay motivated and to work hard.
âIf you can do that itâs a great quality to have.â
Provided by Press Association Sport