Wayne Rooney makes shock move to bring in his old Man Utd boss as assistant manager at Plymouth

WAYNE ROONEY has hired Mike Phelan as his assistant manager at Plymouth.

Pete Shuttleworth left as Rooney’s No2 due to personal reasons – sparking a backroom shake-up at Argyle.

Rex

Wayne Rooney has hired Mike Phelan as his assistant manager at Plymouth[/caption]

Phelan will reunite with Rooney at PlymouthGetty

AFP

The pair worked together at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson[/caption]

And Rooney made the move to hire Phelan, who worked with the Manchester United legend at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney said: “I am sad to see Pete leave the club.

“He is someone I have worked with very closely throughout my managerial career having first met at Derby County and he has also been a close friend.

“Pete has some personal matters going on which is where his focus needs to be and we all completely respect that and have mutually decided to part ways.

“Mike is someone I know well having worked with him when I was a player at Manchester United and he has vast experience at the highest level of football.

“I am really pleased to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing him get to work immediately.”

Phelan spent five seasons at United from 2008-2012 under Fergie, winning the Premier League and Champions League together.

He then moved to Norwich and also had a spell at Hull before returning to United in 2018 for another four years.

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Phelan now returns to coaching alongside Rooney, who has been in charge at Plymouth since May.

Argyle sit 22nd in the Championship and find themselves in the relegation zone on goal difference only.

But they are without a win in four league games, despite drawing 2-2 with Watford at home in their last game.