Rooney has some advice for the FA as he reveals future plans

Oli Fisher

Wayne Rooney has again spoken of his desire to go into coaching but England’s record goalscorer wants the FA to improve the pathway for ex-Premier League players.

The Everton skipper discussed his plans for the future on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports this week and he has reinforced that point again in an interview with Jamie Carragher in The Telegraph.

Rooney has already taken his first tentative steps into coaching but already he has identified a concern for the FA.

The former Manchester United striker believes current and recently-retired players are put off from progressing into coaching by the time it takes to work through coaching licenses.

“The FA are not happy with the (lack of) ex-England players going into coaching, and rightly so, but they have to do more to make the option attractive,” Rooney told Carragher.

“The problem nowadays is that most players who have played at the very top level don’t need to do it for the money, so it has to be a motivation to want to do it.

“I know players who look at that process and what they see is five or six years to get all the badges. Do they really need that? It is a problem. You won’t get enough players in.

“The FA has to look at that. We do the ‘B’ level coaching licence and, really, anyone can do it. Honestly. Anyone who has played to a level – any Premier League level – they can do that with their eyes shut.

“Imagine you have never kicked a ball in your life and you decide you want to be a coach, you will start on your ‘B’ licence the same as someone who has played 120 games for their country.

“Is that right? Should we really start at the same level? In that situation, with all the knowledge we as internationals have gained, it has to mean a bit more.”

Rooney accepts senior internationals still need to be educated before making the step into coaching but the Everton veteran believes players’ experience should help them climb the ladder quicker initially.

“I am not saying you have to skip coaching badges,” he continued. “I understand you need to learn more advanced coaching skills, but it is that first bit I am talking about.

“It is the entry level – that first step that takes longer than it needs to. Is that really necessary for someone with so much experience already?

“They need to be more lenient with the top players – if that is what they want – in terms of recognising what they need to be attracted to go into coaching.”

In the long-term, Rooney says he would love to one day manage Everton, where he returned last summer after 13 years at Manchester United.

“The main thing I want to have a go at is management,” he said.

“I would love to stay at Everton in a coaching role or hopefully manager one day. It is something I want to do – to stay involved, but if that is not possible I will look to see where the opportunities are for me. I am determined to become a manager.

“From next season I want to be doing some coaching sessions with the Under 14s at Everton. It would be good to have all my badges by the time I have finished, but it is also about having the chance to carry on when I have so I can get straight into coaching.”