Former Derby County boss Wayne Rooney's resolve is unshaken when it comes to his coaching ambitions - and he may even be onto his next job already.

The Manchester United icon parted ways with Plymouth by mutual consent at the end of December, marking his fourth exit from a managerial role in less than three years.

His stints at Derby County, Birmingham City, DC United and Argyle have not yielded the desired results, which might discourage others from pursuing a career in management.

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But that's not the case for Rooney, it seems, who is already certain regarding his touchline ambitions. And while many might feel it's clear he isn't cut out for this side of the sport, the man himself is unshakeable when it comes to his future.

"I would like to go back in [to management]," he said on the Stick to Football podcast (via The Mirror ), catching former United team-mate Gary Neville off guard. "But it would have to be the right club. Certainly the right club."

After being taken aback by his old comrade's gluttony for punishment, Neville questioned if Rooney was "all right," implying the idea of not being deterred from coaching seemed crazy. Nonetheless, Rooney's passion to make his mark in management remains strong.

"I think you always have that ego, don't you? You always have that confidence you could go in and get the best out of a bad or difficult situation," he continuted. "Obviously, that wasn't the case [at Plymouth]. I am going to enjoy time with my family, though."

Roy Keane later suggested Rooney's "strengths might come out" if he were to manage players of a higher calibre. United's all-time top scorer agreed, acknowledging that each of his previous coaching roles had seen him take on significant challenges from the outset.

The former England striker has expressed he'd be open to other coaching roles and would have "no problem" leading an under-21 side. Talk then turned to the current situation at Tottenham, where manager Ange Postecoglou finds himself on thin ice amid speculation he's not long for the chop.

"I'll put my name forward," joked Rooney as the rest of the Stick to Football cast erupted into laughter. Though with Tottenham languishing at 15th in the Premier League and without a win since December 15, some fans might welcome just about any sign of change.

While Rooney's managerial record in the Championship and Major League Soccer may lead some to dismiss his coaching credentials, he hasn't shied away from his ultimate goal. And a post at Old Trafford remains among his dream jobs despite recent setbacks.

"Managing Manchester United or Everton is the aim, these big jobs are where you want to get to," he said on Match of the Day in January 2024. "But it's a process I have got to go through the steps and get myself back on track. I want to get myself back into management to make sure in the next 10 years I'm hopefully in a position to go into one of the big jobs."