Rio Ferdinand has revealed Wayne Rooney is the 'total opposite' as a manager compared to his personality as a player.
Since leaving Manchester United four years ago, Rooney has enjoyed spells at Everton, D.C. United and Derby County.
It was at the latter where he transitioned into a player-manager role before eventually becoming the Championship sides' permanent manager after hanging up his boots, though, and he now has the tough task of maintaining the club's second division status again this term.
Ferdinand, who played alongside Rooney at Old Trafford for 10 trophy-laden years, has offered unique insight into what Rooney the manager is like at Derby after visiting his former teammate at training and the impression he made is not what you might expect.
“I didn’t have an idea of what he would be like," Ferdinand admitted to FIVE.
“As a player, he’s quiet sometimes, can be loud sometimes, can be brash, can be aggressive. He’s the total opposite as a manager, it’s mad. There’s a respect level with the players, immediately you get that with these players because he’s Wayne Rooney.
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"But then you have to prove yourself. Every player I’ve talked to here, whether it be Curtis Davies, Ravel [Morrison] etc, they’ve all said ‘he’s good you know’ because they didn’t know what to expect - he’s brought them together and they’re a close-knit group now.
“We’ve got a WhatsApp group that we chat in with all the old Manchester United players and the first thing I’m going to say in there is ‘wow’ because the first thing that stands out is he absolutely loves it, tactically as well.
