Wayne Rooney: Plymouth Argyle boss relishing return to Derby

Wayne Rooney says Derby County will always have a "huge place in his heart" as he prepares to return to Pride Park for the first time as a coach.

The Plymouth Argyle head coach spent two-and-a-half years at the Rams, first as a player-coach then as manager.

He lifted the Rams from bottom of the Championship and six points adrift of safety to securing survival by a point on the final day of the season.

But the Rams were relegated 12 months later as financial problems led the club to go into administration and Rooney left as the figurehead to try and keep the club going.

A total of 21 points of deductions for various financial issues saw the Rams finish second-from-bottom - however their record without any deductions would have left them in 17th place.

"It was difficult times for the football club, for the fans, for the staff," said Rooney - who some had felt should be given the freedom of the city.

"We had staff members being made redundant and losing their jobs, but we had to really try and keep it close-knit.

"Sometimes through the most difficult moments bring people together, and I think that's exactly what happened.

"Not just myself, the coaches around me as well, we really pulled together and tried to do the best we could with the players we had.

"It meant that quite a few young players made their debut for the football club, some of them are still in the team now like Liam Thompson and Eiran Cashin.

"Those two got an opportunity through the situation the club was in, and they took it and not looked back."

Rooney ended his playing career - which saw him win every major honour with Manchester United and become England's record goalscorer - at Derby.

He also scored his final professional goal for the club in a 1-0 win at Norwich City in October 2020 and says the memories he made at the club will stay with him forever.

"Derby County has a huge place in my heart," he said.

"My last game in football was for Derby and they gave me an opportunity in management and I had some really good times there.

"The fans were excellent, so it's a place where I really enjoyed going into work.

"Of course while they're playing us I don't want them to do well, but other than that it's good to see them back in the Championship."

Rooney will pit his wits against his successor Paul Warne for the first time on Saturday.

Plymouth go into the game having won for the first time in five games after an unconvincing 1-0 victory over bottom side Portsmouth that took them out of the relegation places.

But Rooney has yet to lead Argyle to an away win this season - his side's record of one goal scored and 16 conceded is the worst away from home in the Championship.

A 1-1 draw at QPR in August is the only point they have got on the road under his leadership as they have suffered heavy losses at places such as Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City.

"It's very difficult in this league to win away from home," Rooney told BBC Radio Devon.

"We've had some good performances away and come away with nothing, we've had some performances where we haven't deserved anything away from home.

"We hope we can put that together on Saturday and come away with a victory and go into the international break with a good feeling."