I’m a Man United legend and dream of managing them - my Old Trafford return is going to be special
Wayne Rooney is set for a return to Old Trafford as he prepares to play for Manchester United Legends in a charity match against Celtic Legends on Saturday.
The former United captain who scored a club-record 253 goals will play alongside fellow legends including Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Dimitar Berbatov. Rooney left United in 2017 to rejoin Everton before ending his playing career in 2021.
And the 38-year-old certainly does not lack any ambition having previously stated his aim of managing the Reds one day. The United great is currently managing Championship side Plymouth Argyle having previously been in charge of Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City.
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"Managing Manchester United or Everton is the aim, these big jobs are where you want to get to," he said on Match of the Day, when working as an analyst for United's FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest last season.
"But it's a process. I have got to go through the steps and get myself back on track. I want to get myself back into management to make sure in the next 10 years I'm hopefully in a position to go into one of the big jobs."
Rooney has endured a mixed managerial career so far. Having initially impressed at a cash-strung Derby, the former United star lasted just 83 days at Birmingham before being sacked in January
Rooney's current team Plymouth meanwhile have just one win in all competitions so far this season. His focus on Saturday however will be helping to raise funds for the Manchester United Foundation.
"It will be a special moment to be back out there at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon for the Legends game, and it is all for such a good cause," he told the club's official website. "It will be great to play there again, my last game was for Soccer Aid in 2021. The atmosphere was brilliant and I can’t wait to see all the fans again and I am really looking forward to it.
"I have seen firsthand the great work that the Foundation does through the programme funded from money raised at my testimonial game against Everton in 2016. The work they do in the local communities is vital, and it really does help a lot of young people.
"It is important that we continue to do what we can, when we can, to support the Foundation and continue to put smiles on children's faces. I am particularly looking forward to meeting up with my former team-mates, who I have not seen for a while.
"First of all, it is for a great cause but, to be honest, the thing you miss the most when you stop playing is the dressing-room banter. I am sure there will be plenty of that around this weekend!
"I am certainly looking forward to meeting up with all of the team and sharing great memories of being a Manchester United player. Furthermore, our opponents, Celtic, are a club that I followed when I was younger. I always look out for them when they are playing. I've been to a few games and they have got great fans too. See you on Saturday!"
You can follow all of the action from Saturday's game with the Manchester Evening News live blog here.