Wayne Rooney

Arsenal will play Portsmouth in the fifth round of the 2020 FA Cup after producing a fine 2-1 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Monday night.

The Gunners went through on the heels of the draw for the next round being made. Other notable ties include Championship side Sheffield Wednesday hosting holders Manchester City, while Chelsea will meet the winners of Liverpool's replay against Shrewsbury Town.

A replay is needed, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already made it clear neither he nor his senior stars will be involved so they can enjoy the Premier League-mandated winter break, per BBC Sport.

Another replay will see Northampton Town face Derby County. If the Rams win then Wayne Rooney could face former club Manchester United in the next round.

The potential for some big ties here!

Your FA Cup fifth round draw in full 👇 pic.twitter.com/lsTb27Yozl

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 27, 2020

4th-Round Scores

• Northampton Town 0-0 Derby County
• Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
• Brentford 0-1 Leicester City
• Burnley 1-2 Norwich City
• Coventry City 0-0 Birmingham City
• Millwall 0-2 Sheffield United
• Portsmouth 4-2 Barnsley
• Reading 1-1 Cardiff City
• Southampton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
• West Ham United 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
• Hull City 1-2 Chelsea
• Manchester City 4-0 Fulham
• Tranmere Rovers 0-6 Manchester United
• Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Liverpool
• Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal

Replays will take place on Tuesday, February 4, except Tottenham's game at home to Southampton which will be played on Wednesday, February 5, according to the competition's official website.

The same source lists the fifth round as starting on Thursday, March 5, but notes "fixture dates and times may change, subject to TV selections and replays."

Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta opted to put his faith in youth for cup duty. He consigned Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira to the bench, bringing in 20-year-olds Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock, along with Matteo Guendouzi.

Willock was at the heart of things for the Gunners' opener. His deft turn accelerated a slick move that ended when 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli played in Bukayo Saka.

Willock's fellow academy graduate smashed the ball in for 1-0:

No stopping that ⚡️#EmiratesFACup #BOUARS pic.twitter.com/QFOxbNT30s

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 27, 2020

The neat and intricate move from back to front was reminiscent of the possession-based football Arteta played under former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:

22 - There were 22 passes in the build up to Bukayo Saka's opener for Arsenal, involving all 10 outfield players. Breakthrough. #FACup #BOUARS pic.twitter.com/FaYPxQcNGo

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 27, 2020

Arsenal kept the pressure on, executing an intense press and shifting the ball intelligently and at pace. It was 2-0 after 26 minutes when another well-worked passage of play ended with Saka teeing up Nketiah:

Need a goal in the #EmiratesFACup?

📞 Call @EddieNketiah9.#BOUARS pic.twitter.com/qiuIk8eQqT

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 27, 2020

The close-range finish vindicated Arteta's gamble to rest Lacazette, as well as the decision to recall Nkeitah from his loan spell with Leeds United:

Eddie Nketiah has now scored in back-to-back away appearances for Arsenal.

2018/19 vs. Burnley
2019/20 vs. Bournemouth

That's why Mikel Arteta kept him. pic.twitter.com/2nWqj9hOOQ

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 27, 2020

A 94th-minute goal from Sam Surridge made things tense for Arsenal, but overall Arteta's players had delivered a professional performance on their travels.

Pompey will present a different challenge, despite being eighth in League One. Kenny Jackett's team isn't afraid to go long and play the kind of direct game likely to unsettle the Gunners' defence.

The question for Liverpool is whether Klopp would even want another cup tie after declaring the club's academy and reserve players will feature against Shrewsbury.

Klopp says Neil Critchley will manage LFC in replay. Will be U23 side as senior players have winter break.

— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) January 26, 2020

Klopp said club was told last April to 'respect winter break' and not arrange friendlies or any games. So he is taking this advice. No senior players available for cup replay.

— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) January 26, 2020

Liverpool took the same controversial approach for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa back in December. It backfired when Villa won 5-0, and Shrewsbury will be confident about getting past a reserve lineup after Jason Cummings' brace erased a 2-0 deficit against a more experienced side at Montgomery Waters Meadow on Sunday.

Chelsea will hope for a Shrewsbury win, confident about beating lower-league opposition to reach the last eight. The Blues have a rich pedigree in this competition, lifting the trophy in 2018, one year after losing the final to Arsenal.

United were Chelsea's victims in 2018, but the Red Devils served notice about their intent this season with a ruthless display against Tranmere:

Manchester Utd put on a ruthless display in their #EmiratesFACup fourth round fixture 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ea21jDaMO7

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 26, 2020

The chance to see club-record goalscorer Rooney again may provide United with extra motivation.

Right place, right time ⚽#OnThisDay 10 years ago, @WayneRooney won the derby late on with this header! #MUFC #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/YIt9vTUwoG

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 27, 2020

Derby need to beat Northampton first, something Phillip Cocu's team has the quality to do. Tom Lawrence, Martyn Waghorn and Tom Huddlestone should see the Rams through and set up one of the more intriguing ties of the round at Pride Park Stadium.

Manchester City will travel to Sheffield Wednesday in the fifth round as they continue the defence of the FA Cup.    

Northampton Town or Derby County will host Manchester United, while Liverpool will travel to Chelsea if they defeat Shrewsbury Town in their fourth-round replay.

Arsenal will be back on the south coast to play Portsmouth after beating Bournemouth 2-1 on Monday.

The matches will be played from March 2, with full dates to be confirmed.

           

5th-Round Draw

🚨 Here's your #EmiratesFACup fifth round draw 🚨 pic.twitter.com/bFgbin0qK1

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 27, 2020

 

Wayne Rooney could be set to face his former side after Derby were drawn against Manchester United.

The Rams will host Northampton in a fourth-round replay on February 4, and if they are successful, Rooney could feature against the Red Devils.

The fourth round failed to produce winners from six ties, setting up multiple replays. However, Tuesday's draw brought together interesting pairings for the next phase.

Liverpool will expect to beat Shrewsbury at Anfield in their replay, even with a youthful side, and the Premier League's runaway leaders should be ready for a mouthwatering clash at Chelsea if they send out their first-choice side.

A guaranteed all-Premier League tie was pulled out of the bag, pitting Tottenham Hotspur or Southampton at home to Norwich City. Jose Mourinho's side watched the Saints grab an 87th-minute equaliser through Sofiane Boufal.

Manchester City will feel comfortable with their draw sending them to Championship club Sheffield Wednesday.

The holders made short work of Fulham, who sit seven places above the Owls in the second tier, winning 4-0 in the fourth round at the Etihad.

Arsenal produced a comprehensive display against the Cherries, and Mikel Arteta will be pleased with what he's seeing from his youngsters.

Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah made it 2-0 within 26 minutes, and Eddie Howe's side could only find a late consolation through Sam Surridge. The Gunners now play Pompey at Fratton Park.

Sheffield Wednesday are the first team into the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating Queen's Park Rangers 2-1 on Friday. Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney's Derby County will require a replay to progress after they were held by Northampton Town. 

Later this weekend there are more absorbing ties to savour. Manchester United will be out to avoid a shock away to League One side Tranmere Rovers, while in-form Brentford welcome Leicester City to Griffin Park early on Saturday.

Holders Manchester City host Championship promotion hopefuls Fulham, while the Premier League's runaway leaders Liverpool visit Shrewsbury Town on Sunday.

Here is a look back at Friday's action and a preview of what's to come on fourth-round weekend.

    

FA Cup - Round 4 Schedule & Results

Friday, January 24

QPR 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Northampton Town 0-0 Derby County

    

Saturday, January 25

Brentford vs. Leicester City

Portsmouth vs. Barnsley

Newcastle United vs. Oxford United

Burnley vs. Norwich City

Southampton vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Reading vs. Cardiff City

Millwall vs. Sheffield United

Coventry City vs. Birmingham City

West Ham United vs. West Bromwich Albion

Hull City vs. Chelsea

   

Sunday, January 26

Manchester City vs. Fulham

Tranmere Rovers vs. Manchester United

Shrewsbury Town vs. Liverpool

    

Monday, January 27

Bournemouth vs. Arsenal

    

Friday Recap

In a tight contest, some slack defending from QPR allowed Sheffield Wednesday to take the lead at Loftus Road.

The home side switched off when the ball went out for a throw-in, which was quickly taken, and Morgan Fox was able to prod home a shot to give the Owls the lead:

Fox in the box 🦊#EmiratesFACup @swfc pic.twitter.com/b4g5w1B378

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 24, 2020

In the second period, the defender made a fantastic block to deny the tricky Eberechi Eze. Kris Voakes of Goal said Fox has been a standout performer for the Sheffield outfit this season:

https://twitter.com/krisvoakes/status/1220822232181739521

Sam Winnall doubled the Owls' advantage in the first minute of injury time and while Nahki Wells' goal for QPR two minutes later set up a nervy finish, it was too late for the London club to mount a comeback.

Elsewhere, Rooney lined up in midfield for Derby, as they went up against League Two outfit Northampton Town.

After a lifeless first period from both sides, Ryan Conway of The Athletic commented on a poor performance from the second-tier team:

HALF TIME!!

Northampton 0
Derby 0

Dreadful stuff from the visitors. No pattern of play and everything rushed. You'd think they were the underdogs.

Williams and Oliver are a problem for Davies and Forsyth.

Wonder if Cocu will put an extra body in midfield.#FACup

— Ryan Conway (@RJConway92) January 24, 2020

Derby were in control of the ball for long spells of the second period but lacked the penetration needed in wide areas to constantly create against Northampton.

If the Rams are to progress into the last 32, they'll need to get the better of their fourth-tier opponents at Pride Park in the replay.

   

Weekend Preview

Arguably the most intriguing tie of the fourth round will see Manchester United travel to Tranmere. You suspect the Merseyside outfit will be sensing blood too.

Rovers' spirits will be high after they eliminated Watford in extra time on Thursday. It was clear just how much that win meant to the players, fans and manager Micky Mellon after the clash:

😍 That roar!#TRFC #SWA pic.twitter.com/KvB5yfJx7F

— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) January 23, 2020

As relayed by Adam Leventhal of The Athletic, the surface at Tranmere's Prenton Park pitch isn't ideal for slick passing football:

Thought I’d take a picture of the pitch before I left. If you avoid the bunkers you’ll be ok #MUFC. 👍 pic.twitter.com/l5Yyg9ICkE

— Adam Leventhal (@AdamLeventhal) January 23, 2020

That will be a challenge for United. Confidence will be low in the squad too, as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watched his team slump to a disappointing 2-0 loss to Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Also looking to spring a shock will be Shrewsbury, when they welcome Liverpool to Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Liverpool are set to make a number of changes to their side for this one, although they will still represent a dangerous opponent. A youthful Reds XI got the better of local rivals Everton in the previous round, with Curtis Jones scoring this stunning goal in a 1-0 win:

Elsewhere, Chelsea and Leicester will face potentially difficult trips to Championship teams, with Hull and Brentford respectively seeking to get one over their top-flight opponents. The Blues and the Foxes will both be without their star forwards too, with Tammy Abraham and Jamie Vardy both injured.

Meanwhile, City won't be able to show any complacency against Fulham, who have surged up into third place in the second tier.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping his front three can go on to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. 

Solskjaer coached that trio at United in the 2007-08 season following his retirement, and in Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood he sees similar potential.

He said:

"We can see them three, got them on long contracts, and can see them three developing into a very exciting front three.

"I was here with Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney⁠—that's what we want as supporters and manager, express yourselves, put the fear to their defenders. We've got Daniel James here as well so I am very excited for it."

Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez comprised United's forward line between 2007 and 2009, during which time they played a key role in the club winning back-to-back Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League and the League Cup, among other honours.

In 2007-08, they returned an incredible 79 goals and 29 assists between them in all competitions. The following season, after Solskjaer had taken over the Red Devils' reserve team instead, they bagged 61 goals and 32 assists.

Rashford, Martial and Greenwood have enjoyed impressive campaigns this season:

Marcus Rashford:
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️
🅰️🅰️🅰️

Anthony Martial:
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
⚽️🅰️🅰️🅰️

Mason Greenwood:
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️
🅰️

39 goals between them all. pic.twitter.com/HhKz99SiX9

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 11, 2020

They scored all the goals in United's 4-0 win over Norwich City in their last Premier League outing:

James Robson of the Evening Standard hailed Solskjaer's work with the attackers:

Solskjaer is not beyond blame for United’s plight this season - but the improvement in the previously erratic Rashford and Martial has been immense. And in Greenwood he’s unearthed an absolute gem #mufc

— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) January 11, 2020

The triumvirate can't yet be compared to the world-class front three Solskjaer previously worked with.

They were not only further along in their development⁠—particularly ahead of Greenwood, who only turned 18 in October⁠—but they were also playing in a much stronger United side all round.

That said, the fact they've contributed so much this season in a team that struggles to provide them with service makes their feats all the more impressive.

United travel to Liverpool on Sunday, where they'll be desperate to inflict the Reds' first league defeat of the season.

Rashford, Martial and Greenwood have contributed one more goal between them in all competitions than Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

The Reds have shipped just 14 goals in the league, though, so Sunday's clash is likely to be a much tougher test for United's attackers than theirs, particularly as Rashford is doubtful to appear after suffering a back injury in the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Wayne Rooney believes he still has what it takes to play in the Premier League and hopes to take Derby County up to the highest level of English football in the near future.

Per Sky Sports, the former England international told reporters all he needs is the right players around him:

"I still felt I could do it when I was at Everton, but other people made their decisions on that. Now my ambition is to get Derby back in the Premier League and hopefully play my part there for them.

"Ryan Giggs was able to play into his late thirties in the Premier League and Gareth Barry says he wants to do it at 40. It's important to understand football. It is not all about running round, it is about using your head to play the game.

"Sometimes that gets lost, because you don't score as many goals or whatever. Given the right team around me, then I could still play in the Premier League. The two teams I played for in the Premier League were Manchester United and Everton. I am at Derby now, and hopefully we can get there with them."

The 34-year-old also discussed his ambition to move into coaching, citing the success of former players like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Scott Parker.

Rooney has joined Derby, where his 18-month contract will start in January. He'll have the role of player-coach with the Rams, who have not enjoyed a strong season and sit closer to the relegation zone than the play-off places.

Rooney played in the Premier League between 2002 and 2018, making his debut with Everton before moving to Manchester United in 2017. He's the team's all-time top scorer and won five Premier League titles with the Red Devils as well as the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League.

He returned to Goodison Park in 2017, but couldn't find much success with his former club and moved to MLS less than a year later. With D.C. United, the veteran forward got back on track:

In his final season in MLS, Rooney scored 11 goals and added seven assists, but DC United lost to eventual MLS Cup finalists Toronto FC in the first round of the play-offs.

Derby will hope Rooney's scoring form carries over to the Championship. Martyn Waghorn leads the team with six goals scored, and the Rams have the third-worst attacking record in the division, ahead of only Wigan and Middlesbrough.

They're winless in their last five Championship outings and are coming off a 1-0 loss to Millwall.

Dimitar Berbatov has said critics who called him lazy during his playing career "can go f--k themselves," with the former Manchester United striker insisting he brought different value to his teams. 

Berbatov, 38, joined Tottenham Hotspur from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 and came upon success at White Hart Lane before he earned a £30.75 million transfer to Old Trafford in 2008.

The Bulgarian was a centre-forward renowned for his hold-up play, silky footwork and finishing ability. He spoke to Goal's Nizaar Kinsella and dismissed anyone who suggested he didn't pull his weight: 

"It is probably because I didn't play like (Wayne) Rooney or (Carlos) Tevez. I didn't like that because I can show you six or seven current world-class players who run less than me back then. When you label something like that, it sticks. Even if it isn't true.

"People can go f--k themselves. People don't understand and try to look smart. I would check my stats after every game and I was running 10 to 11 kilometres every game. It doesn't make any difference for me. I was more bothered how I move and make space.

"How to get an assist or pass to keep the ball. It wasn't all about goals. I know when I was bad or good. I was realistic and knew where I stood in the football world. I always wanted to develop."

Berbatov won two Premier League titles, a League Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup with United. A match-winning hat-trick against Liverpool in September 2010 served as a special highlight during his time in England's top flight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJoSm3ENgjs

The attacker described himself as an "artist on the pitch" who only realised later in his career that it was important for him to perform a different duty than those such as Rooney or Tevez. The latter two were more highly regarded for their graft off the ball, but Berbatov wanted to be remembered differently:

"I wanted people to say 'wow, I want to try that.' Then you see it isn't as easy as it looks. This is what I wanted to do. It didn't affect my game because this is who I am. I have my way of seeing football, not everyone can see it in the same way.

"Everyone is different. It helped me get to one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course, you can't play with 11 artists on the pitch. It is not going to happen, you need...not 11 of me."

Berbatov spent his prime playing years with United between 2008 and 2012, eventually joining Fulham and later moving to Ligue 1 with AS Monaco:

A #Ligue1Legend with @AS_Monaco_EN , what's your favorite memory of Dimitar Berbatov in Ligue 1 Conforama? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/KmPkFxaZ5Y

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 8, 2019

He scored 56 times and recorded 27 assists in 149 appearances for United. He shared the 2010-11 Premier League Golden Boot with team-mate Tevez after they finished the campaign tied on 20 goals apiece, not to mention earning two PFA Team of the Year selections (2007, '11).

Berbatov recently shared sympathy for Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, a player strongly linked with the club's exit in the past and one whom he feels has gone under-appreciated by the club's fans, per Goal:

🗣 Dimitar Berbatov:

"For someone like Bale to score so many goals and still not get the recognition and respect because of that, it seems strange to me.

"They were booing Ronaldo at times in Madrid. I would watch that and think, 'what the f*ck do you want?!'" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/csAKemXF3O

— GOAL (@goal) October 9, 2019

The 38-year-old may be looked upon as a player whose brilliance will be remembered more so after his playing career than during, such were the attacking riches United were blessed with back then.

However United are struggling for goals under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who could desperately use a man of Berbatov's talents ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash at home to leaders Liverpool.

Coleen Rooney has said stories were leaked from her private Instagram account to The Sun newspaper by Rebekah Vardy, wife of former England international striker Jamie Vardy.

Rooney, who is married to former Manchester United and current DC United footballer Wayne Rooney, posted the allegation on her Twitter account on Wednesday, in which she says she's been posting fake stories on her social media platforms to a select number of people:

This has been a burden in my life for a few years now and finally I have got to the bottom of it...... pic.twitter.com/0YqJAoXuK1

— Coleen Rooney (@ColeenRoo) October 9, 2019

In response, Vardy denied that she had leaked the stories, instead alleging that other people had accessed her account:

https://twitter.com/RebekahVardy/status/1181871914081509376

As relayed by Gareth Davies of the Daily Telegraph, the fabricated stories mentioned by Rooney in her statement appeared in The Sun newspaper.

On Aug. 16, The Sun published an article that said Rooney was visiting a clinic to pick the gender of a future child. Then on Sept. 29, a story was published that said the 33-year-old would appear on Strictly Come Dancing.

Per Luke Bailey of the Independent, edits have been made to the online versions of the stories since Rooney's statement:

The Sun, however, has outdone themselves. They temporarily deleted the story, then put it back up, but threw in a few thousand words of completely unrelated content, before adding a tiny note at the bottom. Superb. pic.twitter.com/7UyYCqD0OA

— Luke Bailey (@imbadatlife) October 9, 2019

Per the BBC, The Sun said they did not want to comment on the allegations.

The Rooneys have been married for 11 years, having met each other during their schooldays, and have four children together.

DC United star Wayne has been playing his football in the United States since the summer of 2018 after leaving Everton. However, he will return to the English game in January after agreeing a deal to join Championship club Derby County as a player-coach.

Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has said he believes Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions ahead of Manchester City this season.

Speaking to iFL TV (h/t Metro), the D.C. United striker, who is set to return to English football in January with Derby County, said he thinks the Reds will collect the Premier League crown.

"In my opinion, Liverpool look the strongest," said Rooney. "Manchester City are a fantastic team. I think Liverpool have improved on last year, whereas City have stayed at that level of great consistency, so I think Liverpool."

Rooney won the Premier League title on five occasions with the Red Devils, and the 33-year-old now believes Jurgen Klopp's club will return to the top of English football.

Liverpool have a perfect record in the league, winning their opening eight games to achieve maximum points.

City are second, but a shock 2-0 home defeat on Sunday against Wolverhampton Wanderers has damaged their bid to regain their title.

The loss allows the Reds to hold an eight-point lead over the champions heading into the international break.

Liverpool's next Premier League game is a visit to Old Trafford on October 20 to face a failing United side which lost 1-0 on Sunday at Newcastle United. City are set to visit Crystal Palace on October 19, with the Eagles flying high in sixth.

Former England striker Wayne Rooney says the Three Lions would have won "everything" if they'd had a manager like Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in charge when he broke into the team.

Per ESPN UK, Rooney said as much on the Wayne Rooney Podcast:

Wayne Rooney has no doubt England’s ‘golden generation’ would have won the World Cup and European Championships with Pep Guardiola in charge. pic.twitter.com/yXxn2mWdeO

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) September 13, 2019

Rooney, who became the nation's all-time top scorer in 2015, broke into the England team as a teenager in 2003 under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

He and his team-mates were dubbed the "Golden Generation."

Football.London's Greg Johnson felt Ashley Cole stood out among them:

https://twitter.com/gregianjohnson/status/1163064316263829505

Cole arguably may have been the only one who was the best in his position in the world, but England could name a first XI stacked with top-class talent, players who won countless trophies in their hugely successful club careers.

They failed to make a significant impact on the international stage, though, under Eriksson, Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello.

After reaching the quarter-final stages of the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, England were knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 in 2010.

The Three Lions also reached the last eight of the UEFA European Champions in 2004 and failed to qualify for the 2008 edition.

Although international management is a different game to club football, where it's perhaps easier to implement a philosophy on a squad by working with them daily, a manager of Guardiola's quality would likely have coaxed more from such a talented generation of players.

The Spaniard has won a combined eight league titles with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, along with two UEFA Champions Leagues and a number of other honours.

Capello also had a superb CV filled with top-level titles, but much of his success as a coach came in the 1990s, and the players did not appear to respond particularly well to his autocratic style.

Guardiola, on the other hand, is one of the most influential coaches of modern times and has repeatedly shown he can take an excellent player and raise their game further still.

England have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes in recent years under Gareth Southgate, who guided them to the semi-finals of the World Cup last year—the first time they've reached the final four since 1990—and the UEFA Nations League this year.

Although individually there is perhaps not quite as much talent available as England possessed in Rooney's early days, the Three Lions have shown they can begin competing again at the top level.  

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said Wayne Rooney has told him he "would love" to participate in a charity boxing match.

According to Michael Benson of talkSport, Hearn said the former Manchester United and England captain is keen to step in the ring and try his hand at one of his favourite sports.

Hearn will promote the upcoming rematch between YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul in November, and when asked by talkSport's Jim White if other celebrities want to step into the ring, the promoter said: "Yeah, loads. But more like people like Wayne Rooney. I've got a podcast, he was on there recently, he loves it. He's been boxing in amateur clubs. Wayne would love to do a charity fight. All these guys, they love boxing."

Hearn added Rooney joked in the past about fighting former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who made a failed attempt to earn a professional boxing license in 2018.

Hearn said such a bout could be a good way of raising money for Sport Relief, or a similar charity, in the future.