Plymouth Argyle manager Miron Muslic has hit out at Wayne Rooney, claiming the Pilgrims would be safe from relegation if the Manchester United legend was not in charge at the start of the campaign. Muslic, 42, was brought in to the club in January as Rooney’s replacement.
Despite thumping Norwich City, Sheffield United, and Coventry City at Home Park, the Pilgrims sit rock bottom of the Championship. They will likely need two victories in their final two matches to avoid the drop down to League One.
As league positions are concerned, Muslic has Argyle in the exact same position as they were under Rooney, who was sacked at the start of 2025. They face Preston North End this Saturday before a challenging clash with top-of-the-league Leeds United on 3rd May.
Taking the helm in early January following Rooney’s exit, Muslic’s tenure began with Plymouth languishing at the bottom, bagging just 18 points from 23 matches. Since then, they’ve pocketed 23 points from 19 games, including a stellar run of four wins and a draw in their last eight encounters. Yet, this has not seen them move off the foot of the table, let alone above the dreaded dotted lines of relegation.
After their impressive 3-1 Easter Monday triumph over Coventry, Muslic didn’t mince his words when he hit out at Rooney. He said: “I think if I’m the head coach from day one we will be far, far away from the relegation zone.
“We would be safe five games ago already. I truly believe if I will be here with my staff from day one we will be nowhere near where we are right now.”
Argyle shook off the sting of a controversial Good Friday penalty defeat at Middlesbrough, striking back to best sixth-placed Coventry barely 72 hours later. Meanwhile, Rooney has mainly been working as a pundit ever since he left Plymouth.
Rooney was appointed as manager of Plymouth last summer, not long after he was sacked by Birmingham City after only 83 days. Despite recording nine defeats in 15 matches in the Midlands, Plymouth took a chance on Manchester United’s leading goal-scorer.
It did not go well, as his final match just after Christmas proved to be a 2-0 away defeat to Oxford United, which saw fans chant: “We want Rooney out.” Argyle also became the first club to concede 50 goals within 23 matches since Rotherham achieved the unwanted feat in the 2016-17 campaign.
In a statement of his own soon after his dismissal, Rooney said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with.
“Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as Head Coach and I wish them all the best for the future.
“To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever. I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support.
“Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.”
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