Wayne Rooney says he is not going to do things like Sir Alex Ferguson as he prepares to make his managerial debut.
The former Manchester United striker is part of a management team in temporary charge of Derby County following Phillip Cocu's departure from the Rams.
It looks set to be the start of the next stage of Rooney's career, with the legendary former England man keen to make the step into management.
The Rams face Bristol City this weekend and, in his pre-match press conference, Rooney namechecked Ferguson as possibly the greatest manager of all time.
Yet he said he will have to do things differently to the former Reds boss due to a different standard of player.
He said: "I have worked with some very good managers and possibly the greatest of all time.
"I am not going to say I am going to do it like Sir Alex Ferguson. You have to work with the players you have got and you have to manage players correctly.
"But there are things you can take from other managers.
"There is an opportunity to show the different ideas that you have."
The 35-year-old joined Derby as a player-coach in January and was instantly installed as captain on his arrival at Pride Park.
Rooney has yet to say how long he intends to keep playing for, having been utilised in a deeper midfield role than United fans may have been used to seeing him play.
Yet he has admitted he is keen to take over as Derby boss full-time should the temporary period go well.
He told Derbyshire Live: "I have made it quite clear over the last few years my ambition is to go into management, especially when you see the likes of Steven Gerrard (Rangers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Fulham) all getting good jobs and doing really well.
"I wouldn’t be an ambitious person if I sat here and said I didn’t want the job.
"At the minute we are working together, and if that works, I think that could be a way forward also."
