Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney names best manager he played under

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney named the best manager he has ever played under but that was not the former Red Devils boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 13 Premier Leagues.

Rooney was roped in by Man Utd in 2004 after a sensational spell at Everton. He then went on to represent the 20-time PL winners for 14 years where won five league titles.

However, despite spending the majority of playing career under Ferguson, Rooney named Louis van Gaal as “tactically the best” manager he played under.

The former striker played under Alex Ferguson for 11 years, where he also tasted UEFA Champions League glory by winning the title in 2008.

Ferguson retired in 2013, he was replaced by David Moyes. However, after an underwhelming spell, the Scot was sacked by the Red Devils soon enough.

Rooney then went on to play under Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho but it was the Dutchman whom he found the best tactically.

“I remember Louis van Gaal when he came in – I thought tactically he was the best I’ve worked with,” Rooney said on Stick to Football podcast from Sky Bet.

“It was the stuff off the pitch that was difficult for the players in how he worked, but I remember him coming in and saying he wants his centre forward to have 15, 20 touches a game – that’s exactly what [Erling] Haaland does. I always wanted to play and enjoy the game – and score goals.”

However, that was the first time Rooney spoke highly of Val Gaal. He praised the Dutchman back in 2019 while he was playing for Major League Soccer ((MLS) club DC United.

“Van Gaal is by far the best coach I have worked with - one hundred percent,” Rooney said. “His tactical skills, his way of preparing and his attention to the finest of details, I found amazing. I admired that in him. I had never looked at stuff like that before.”

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