Wayne Rooney looks back on Phillip Cocu’s time at Derby County with a good feeling. The striker is temporary head coach together with Liam Rosenior after the Dutch manager’s dismissal.
Cocu and his assistants Chris van der Weerden and Twan Scheepers were fired at Derby on Saturday due to persistent poor results. Rooney will act as a trainer duo together with interim coach Rosenior (who has the required papers) until the Championship club has found a new trainer.
“I want to say a huge thank you to Phillip and also Chris and Twan,” said Rooney on Thursday at his first press conference as a player / trainer. “I learned a lot from them during my first role as a coach.”
35-year-old Rooney has been playing for Derby since January, where he also played a role as Cocu’s assistant. “It has been a strange week,” said the 120-time England international of the coach’s resignation.
On Saturday, Derby will play its first game against Bristol City after the departure of Cocu and his Dutch assistants. The team won only one of the eleven league matches and is the last in the Championship.
“We’re looking forward to the game,” said Rooney. “We have to start playing simple again. If things aren’t going well, it’s important to keep it simple and be very clear.”
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