Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has been told he must try and join Manchester City if he is to save his managerial career after being sacked by Plymouth Argyle.

Rooney joined the Devon club in the summer after a disappointing stint at Birmingham City. However, things did not improve with Argyle as they plummeted towards the relegation zone in the Championship.

Following a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Oxford United on December 29, Plymouth made the decision to part ways with Rooney and seemingly leave his managerial reputation in tatters. However, EFL expert and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has told Plejmo.com that taking an apprenticeship with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium would be the best way to save a career in football management.

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"I do feel sorry for Wayne Rooney. The four jobs he's had have all been challenging in different ways," Goodman explained.

"Derby were in administration and suffered points deductions, it didn't go well for him in the MLS at D.C United, and it was the wrong time for him to join Birmingham after John Eustace left and he was on the backfoot with an initial set of difficult games. The Plymouth job then came up, and it's always a huge challenge with Plymouth Argyle to survive in the Championship with their resources.

"Every role he's taken has been a really difficult one. It's difficult to see where he goes next.

"I understand the decision [to sack Rooney]. Plymouth suffered some terrible away defeats with no quality and, more worryingly, no fight.

"They scored just three and conceded 35 goals in his 13 away games at Plymouth which is embarrassing, really. Something had to be done and I think Wayne knew that too."

Rooney has jokingly said in the past that he would not mind learning from Guardiola and the City boss said he would be welcome to visit at any time and while Goodman admits that seems unthinkable, he also believes it is Rooney's best chance of continuing in management.

"I remember him joking about going to Manchester City and learning from Pep Guardiola previously," Goodman concluded. "It sounds funny but it wouldn't be the worst idea, would it when you look at what Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca learned?

"Obviously, that’s probably a non-starter but Coleen's [Rooney] been in the jungle so they might want to take some family time. He was an excellent as a pundit in the summer at the Euros and I’d imagine people would like to see him do it again.

"My best guess though, is that he'd like to get back in football in a ‘hands-on’ capacity."