WAYNE ROONEY is keen to join the Saudi Arabia footy revolution – as he plots a return to management.
SunSport can reveal the former Manchester United and Everton ace is interested in following in the footsteps of his ex-England team-mate Steven Gerrard by managing a club side there.
4Wayne Rooney is eyeing Saudi Arabia for his next managerial jobCredit: Rex
4Wazza is keen to follow Steven Gerrard after his Birmingham sacking last monthCredit: Reuters
Pals say Rooney, pictured below soaking up the sun with wife Coleen on a break in Dubai, is “itching to get back to work”.
He was sacked by Birmingham last month after just 13 weeks following just two wins in 15 matches.
A source said: “Wayne’s time in charge at Birmingham hasn’t put him off the idea of management. In fact, he believes he learned a lot of skills which he thinks will hold him in good stead in the future.
“Wayne realises he still has a lot to prove, but he believes he has what it takes to be a manager and would love the chance to manage a team in Saudi Arabia.
“He loved his time managing in America and thinks he could transfer a lot of those skills to the Arabian league.”
SunSport understands that Rooney has been told there is likely to be strong interest in him from mega-rich owners in the region.
Securing the services of a superstar like Rooney would be seen as another step towards boosting the brand of the league.
The source added: “Having Wayne run a team over there would put more eyeballs on the league and give it a boost.
4Rooney has been relaxing in Dubai with wife ColeenCredit: Instagram @waynerooney
4The England legend still dreams of managing in the Premier LeagueCredit: Instagram
“The reputation has taken a bit of a knock since Jordan Henderson quit. Rooney managing there would be a sign that the league is one to be taken seriously.
“Wayne still firmly believes he can prove himself to be a top-class manager and his ambition remains clear – to one day manage in the Premier League. But he knows that won’t happen any time soon.”
Our story comes days after Rooney was seen soaking up the sun in Dubai as part of a luxury break.
Wife Coleen posted photos of the two in the Dubai desert with the couple dressed in traditional headscarves.
Both wore sunglasses to shield their eyes from the harsh desert sun as they rode around in a vintage convertible 4×4.
As the sun set, they each swapped the vintage car for a camel.Coleen wrote: “Always a special experience.”
Wayne has been able to experience some time away with Coleen after he was sacked as Birmingham boss at the beginning of January.
His disastrous 13-week spell there saw the Manchester United legend win just two of his 15 games in charge.
As part of his statement after leaving Birmingham, Rooney outlined that he would take some time away from the game to spend time with his family before taking his next job.
He said: “I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club.
“Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be.
“However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.
“Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16.
“Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.
“Finally, I wish Birmingham City FC and its owners my best wishes in the pursuit of their ambitions.”
Rooney’s successor Tony Mowbray has experienced a positive start to life as Birmingham manager and is unbeaten in the league.
The club sit 20th in the Championship, seven points off the relegation zone with a game in hand.
