Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has voiced his frustration regarding former head coach Ruben Amorim’s tenure, accusing the Portuguese manager of neglecting the club’s prestigious youth academy during his 14-month stay.
Following Amorim’s dismissal and the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager, Rooney highlighted a visible shift in culture, noting that the presence of first-team staff at youth fixtures—including his son Kai’s recent Old Trafford debut for the under-18s—has restored a sense of “club DNA.”
Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney remarked, “It is great to see all the coaches taking a big interest in the academy… I have been quite vocal on this. It used to be the norm but it has been missing in the last few years.
With my two lads in the academy, I haven’t seen that and it was a bit disappointing.” Rooney emphasized that the return to Sir Alex Ferguson-style engagement provides a vital psychological boost, adding,
“The lift it gives to the players and the players’ parents, seeing the first team manager there. That is how the club should be run.”