Wayne Rooney gives hilarious first press conference as Plymouth boss, with England icon mocking ex-team-mate Gary Neville and revealing how he convinced Coleen to make Devon move

Wayne Rooney has jokingly mocked his former Man United team-mate Gary Neville during a hilarious first press conference as Plymouth Argyle boss.

In May, Rooney was appointed as the new manager of Plymouth on a three-year deal - just four months after being sacked by Birmingham City.

He has since been taking on a number of different duties such as a punditry role with the BBC for Euro 2024 and appearing on podcasts to delve into his past. 

However, as he gears up for the start of the 2024-25 season, the former Man United striker has settled down at Plymouth and recently partook in his first press conference and answered some pressing questions.

One of which included a question about his desires to get back into football management - after leaving Birmingham - to which he made a direct remark about Neville. 

Asked why he returned to the dugout, Rooney said: 'Because I don't want to be the next Gary Neville'.

Neville has previously been candid about his tumultuous time in charge of Valencia between 2015 and 2016, which saw him hold office for just four months - during which time he won just three of his 16 league games in charge. 

Back in May, speaking on his podcast Stick to Football, Neville spoke honestly about how he struggled to understand what was going on from the dugout.

'I remember we played three times against Athletic Bilbao, in the Europa League quarter-final and in a league game, and Ernesto Valverde was the coach – he played a different system that I thought he would and then he changed during the game, and I remember thinking that I was nowhere near that level,' Neville said.

'I felt massively inferior to him because I struggled to manage and watch the game from pitch level, especially compared to how I see the game in the gantry.

'You put yourself on the touchline and you're watching a game where all you can see is legs, and how you think of the game tactically or how managers spot things, I have no idea because I remember thinking that I had no idea what was going on.'

Since leaving his role with the Spanish side, Neville is yet to take up another coaching role, while Rooney has backed himself yet again, as he prepares for life at Plymouth.

Elsewhere in the press conference, Rooney jokingly revealed how he was able to convince wife Coleen on a move to Devon.

The 38-year-old explained: 'I told her it was the Monaco of England!'

Back in May, Rooney and wife Coleen began eyeing properties in and around the posh Devon resort of Salcombe as they prepared for his next venture. 

Salcombe is east of Plymouth and would take the former striker less than an hour to travel to Home Park Stadium. 

According to property site RightMove, properties in Salcombe had an overall average price of £1,072,781 over the last year.

The majority of sales in Salcombe during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £1,343,217.

It seems as though the England legend is already feeling settled in the area after labelling it his 'home' during the press conference. 

Rooney explained: 'Every person I've met has been really welcoming. I've had a chat with quite a few people. This is my home now, this is where I'm working and living.' 

Along with settling down in Plymouth with Coleen, Rooney has spent the summer doing a number of punditry gigs but assured fans his focus is on the club. 

'I was working on TV in Germany, but a lot of work was getting done,' he said. '

There's been a lot of work in recruitment. There was a lot of sleepless nights and preparation, in terms of presentations and speaking to players.' 

Speaking back in May, Rooney explained that the 'exciting project' at Home Park Stadium was a big factor for his return to management.

On his appointment at Plymouth, Rooney said: 'Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the Chairman and Board for the faith they have shown in me.

'This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.

'I have experienced first-hand how talented the existing group of players is here – and also the incredible atmosphere at Home Park. The club is on an exciting long-term journey, with a progressive plan in place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it. I can't wait for the Championship season to start in August.'