Former Hull City manager Mike Phelan has been reunited with his former Manchester United colleague Wayne Rooney at Plymouth Argyle.
Phelan, who served as an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at Old Trafford, will now support Rooney in his role as head coach of the Pilgrims. The move comes after Pete Shuttleworth, Phelan’s predecessor, left for personal reasons.
A New Chapter for Phelan and Rooney
Phelan and Rooney share a long history together, having worked closely during the forward’s time at Manchester United, where Phelan played a key role in coaching the club’s stars. Rooney expressed his sadness over Shuttleworth’s departure but highlighted his excitement about bringing Phelan into the fold.
“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, who has spent most of his coaching career in an assistant role, previously managed Hull City in the 2016/17 season following Steve Bruce’s departure. Despite his brief managerial stint, Phelan has extensive experience in coaching, having also worked with Blackpool and Norwich City, as well as being part of the backroom team at Manchester United.
Plymouth Argyle’s Ambitious Move
Plymouth Argyle’s director of football, Neil Dewsnip, expressed his delight at securing Phelan’s services, praising his wealth of experience and the strong relationship he shares with Rooney. Dewsnip believes that Phelan’s expertise will provide crucial support to Rooney as they navigate a busy period of fixtures ahead.
“We are thrilled to bring in someone of Mike’s calibre so quickly as a replacement. He is one of the most experienced coaches around having worked with some of the best players in the world and obviously has a relationship with Wayne already from their time together at Manchester United.”
Writer’s View
Mike Phelan’s move to Plymouth Argyle is an exciting development for both the club and Wayne Rooney. With a wealth of experience and a strong working relationship with the head coach, Phelan’s presence could provide the stability and expertise Argyle need as they push through a busy period of the season. His appointment adds a significant level of coaching depth to the team, and it will be interesting to see how his influence plays out in the coming weeks.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
