Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has thanked his managers after they helped him settle into his new role with the English Championship club.

Wayne Rooney started the just concluded season as a Derby County player before he was forced to make his managerial bow after the club sacked Dutchman Philip Cocu. The former Dutch international had to leave the club after a disastrous start to the campaign.

Cocu led the Rams to the bottom of the English Championship table with just six points from the first 13 games of the season. Wayne Rooney had earlier joined Derby in a player/coach capacity in January 2020 and he had to step up into the interim manager role immediately Cocu left the club.

Rooney has always talked about his interest in football management and it is not surprising that he took the Derby County job. He told The Times in an exclusive interview that his former managers at Manchester United called him to advice him and this was important as he settled into his first managerial role.

Wayne Rooney played under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Jose Mourinho at Manchester United and all three managers called him when he became the Derby County boss. Rooney masterminded the Rams’resurgence as they climbed off the league table and out of the relegation zone at the start of his managerial career at the club.

Derby County rewarded his good start with a permanent deal and though his players stuttered at the end of the season, they were able to get over the line to preserve their Championship status.

Ahead of the last day of the season, Derby County were in serious danger of dropping to League One. In the end, a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to fellow relegation battlers ensured that they stay in the Championship for another season at least.