WAYNE ROONEY is keen to join the Saudi Arabia footy revolution – as he plots a return to management.
SunSport can reveal the former Manchester United and Everton ace is interested in following in the footsteps of his ex-England team-mate Steven Gerrard by managing a club side there.
Wayne Rooney is eyeing Saudi Arabia for his next managerial job
Wazza is keen to follow Steven Gerrard after his Birmingham sacking last month
Pals say Rooney, pictured below soaking up the sun with wife Coleen on a break in Dubai, is “itching to get back to work”.
He was sacked by Birmingham last month after just 13 weeks following just two wins in 15 matches.
A source said: “Wayne’s time in charge at Birmingham hasn’t put him off the idea of management. In fact, he believes he learned a lot of skills which he thinks will hold him in good stead in the future.
“Wayne realises he still has a lot to prove, but he believes he has what it takes to be a manager and would love the chance to manage a team in Saudi Arabia.
“He loved his time managing in America and thinks he could transfer a lot of those skills to the Arabian league.”
SunSport understands that Rooney has been told there is likely to be strong interest in him from mega-rich owners in the region.
Securing the services of a superstar like Rooney would be seen as another step towards boosting the brand of the league.
The source added: “Having Wayne run a team over there would put more eyeballs on the league and give it a boost.
Rooney has been relaxing in Dubai with wife Coleen
The England legend still dreams of managing in the Premier League
“The reputation has taken a bit of a knock since Jordan Henderson quit. Rooney managing there would be a sign that the league is one to be taken seriously.
“Wayne still firmly believes he can prove himself to be a top-class manager and his ambition remains clear – to one day manage in the Premier League. But he knows that won’t happen any time soon.”
Our story comes days after Rooney was seen soaking up the sun in Dubai as part of a luxury break.
Wife Coleen posted photos of the two in the Dubai desert with the couple dressed in traditional headscarves.
Both wore sunglasses to shield their eyes from the harsh desert sun as they rode around in a vintage convertible 4×4.
As the sun set, they each swapped the vintage car for a camel.
Coleen wrote: “Always a special experience.”
Wayne was fired as Birmingham’s manager at the beginning of January, but he was able to spend some time away with Coleen.
During his dreadful 13-week tenure, the legendary Manchester United player managed to win just two of his fifteen games.
Rooney said in a statement following his departure from Birmingham that he would take a break from the game to spend time with his family before accepting a new position.