Tuesday 6 February 2018 00:13, UK
Wayne Rooney has revealed he plans to go into management when he retires from playing, while insisting his best position was as a No 9.
Rooney was the special guest in the Monday Night Football studio for Chelsea's 4-1 defeat at Watford, and looked back on a glittering career, while fielding questions as to what his next step will be once he hangs up his boots.
"I would like to go into management," Rooney said. "I have been involved in football my whole life. That is something I know.
"I have enjoyed tonight, and I am sure I will do a lot more work on television, but ultimately I want to go into management."
One question that always divides people when discussing Rooney's credentials has always been what was his best position? Rooney himself was clear on what role he preferred in his prime at Manchester United.
"I was best as No 9," Rooney said. "I had the instinct to get in the box, I would drop back in and let others run beyond me. As a No 9, that was where I wanted to be, in the box.
"That was the first season I played as lone striker [in 2009/10, when Rooney scored 26 league goals]. Physically, it was the easiest position to play in. You have five midfielders behind you to do the defending. You are always fresh to get in the box and score goals.
"I used to get frustrated that I didn't score enough headers, so I worked hard at it, and they started to come."
Also, more lightheartedly, Rooney talked David Jones and Jamie Carragher through a worrying moment when he crossed former United skipper Roy Keane.
"I remember my first away trip, and I had a huge argument with Roy Keane," Rooney added. "He was watching the rugby, he went to get food, so I turned over and put X-Factor on and hid the remote.
"He went mad, but I had a go back. And he respected me for having a go back. He respects the fact I was big enough to have a go back at him."
