Wayne Rooney has furiously hit back at critics ahead of his first match as Plymouth manager on Sunday.
The former Manchester United, Everton and England star was appointed as the Championship side's replacement for Ian Foster, who lost his job back in April after just one win in 12 games.
Rooney as a player was a force to be reckoned with and, without a doubt, one of the most talented footballers of his generation.
His record as a manager has been mixed, however. While he did a steady job at Derby and DC United, the 38-year-old toiled during a brief spell in charge of Birmingham before being sacked in January after just 83 days at the helm.
Wayne Rooney has furiously hit back at critics ahead of his first match as Plymouth manager on Sunday
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Some critics believe Rooney gets jobs because of his name, rather than his talent as a manager.
But the former England skipper, speaking to the Daily Mail, has now bristled at that statement and furiously hit back.
"When you are in football, you get knockbacks along the way in this kind of job," he said.
"But I want to be great in this role. Whatever happens, I don’t want anyone ever to doubt my work-rate or my willingness to go and try things out of the box."
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Rooney worked as a pundit for the BBC at the European Championships earlier this summer.
He has also appeared on Sky Sports in the past. With a net worth of around £170million, why bother with managing?
But Rooney says he's determined to be a success in the dugout, like he was as a player.
"It’s inner drive," he added. "Many people in many different walks of life have it — my drive is through football and that is something I have loved ever since I was a young boy.
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"I stopped playing and, that day, I went straight into management."
Plymouth director Neil Dewsnip has faced scrutiny for going for Rooney. Yet he's now provided unique insight on the appointment, insisting it'll all work out.
"This is a coup - it isn’t a gamble," he told the newspaper.
"We have done our research and Wayne was selected after a thorough process as the best candidate.
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Wayne Rooney is determined to be a success at Plymouth as they prepare for their Championship clash with Sheffield Wednesday
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"He was asked during his interview in May about relationships and dealing with staff.
"The chairman asked him what members of staff he knew at Derby outside the football set-up, and straightaway he told him the name of a groundsman and the laundry lady.
"He’s got great people skills and that’s important to us. The squad have taken to him incredibly well.
"They obviously respect him for what he was as a player, one of the best three of his generation — you don’t need me to say the names of the other two.
Wayne Rooney's appointment as Plymouth manager has been defended by director Neil Dewsnip
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"But respect has to be earned as a coach and his way of doing that is to show his great personal qualities.
"He is an excellent communicator, brilliant in one-to-one situations. I don’t think he’s realised yet how powerful he is with his words."
