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Wayne Rooney Calls Roy Hodgson His ‘Favourite’ England Manager
There can be no doubt that Wayne Rooney is one of England and Manchester United’s greatest players of all time. When he played his final game for each team, he left both sides as their record goalscorer.
With the Three Lions, he scored 53 goals in 120 appearances, overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton (49 goals in 106 appearances), before Harry Kane took his tally in 2023. At Old Trafford, Rooney still holds the record, with 253 strikes in 559 outings, once again overtaking Charlton’s past record of 249 in 758.
Having had such a wonderful career, the retired striker has worked with some brilliant managers over the years. At club level, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes were the most pivotal in his career, but he played under numerous big names during his time with the Three Lions.
However, one England boss stood out above the rest as Rooney’s favourite.
Rooney’s England Career
Rooney made his England debut in a 3-1 loss against Australia way back in 2003. Sven-Goran Eriksson called him into the senior set-up and oversaw him at Euro 2004, as the 18-year-old lit the tournament on fire with four goals, briefly becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.
The Swedish coach was also in charge at the 2006 World Cup. A half-fit Rooney failed to score at the tournament and then got himself a red card as his team crashed out at the quarter-final stage against Portugal.
After that, Steve McClaren came in, and this was a disastrous one-year spell in which England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. Fabio Capello replaced him, and Rooney scored nine goals during the Three Lions’ 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, while also making his first-ever appearance as captain in a 2009 friendly against Brazil.
The 2010 World Cup did not go well, though, and Rooney even lashed out at his own fans after being booed off the pitch by their supporters following a 0-0 draw with Algeria. England were eliminated in the second round, following a 4-1 defeat to Germany.
Roy Hodgson was the nation’s next permanent boss, replacing Capello after Euro 2012 ended in more disappointment. Rooney was suspended for the first two games of that tournament, but scored in the final group stage win against Ukraine. The striker, unfortunately, then missed his spot-kick as England went out on penalties to Italy in the quarter-finals.
Under Hodgson, Rooney captained England for the first time in a competitive match, but the 2014 World Cup ended in more disappointment, with the Man Utd icon slammed for his displays. He dropped into midfield for Euro 2016 and played well as the nation’s permanent captain, earning the man of the match award after a draw vs Russia. Even so, Iceland would humiliate England in the round of 16.
Sam Allardyce would oversee just one game before Gareth Southgate came in. Rooney would work with his final manager only briefly. He was dropped from a squad in 2017, prompting his international retirement – although Southgate then wanted to recall him ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
On 4 November 2018, Rooney came out of international retirement to play one final match for England to promote The Wayne Rooney Foundation in a friendly against the United States. The Wembley legend came on in the 58th minute of a 3-0 home win, ending his international career with 120 appearances.
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Wayne Rooney played alongside some of the greatest during his England career- but was quick to single out one player as the best.
Rooney’s ‘Best Period’ for England Came Under Hodgson
Rooney has now revealed which manager was his ‘favourite’, picking a bit of a surprise name. Indeed, it was not Eriksson who gave him his debut and saw him shine at Euro 2024, nor was it Capello who made him captain for the first time. Instead, out of the six permanent bosses he had, it was Hodgson who stood out the most.
Rooney recently explained on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show why he enjoyed his time with the 78-year-old:
“My best period from an individual basis with England was under Roy.
“I thought he’d be quiet and then it might have been the first game or a half-time where he snapped and it took me back a little bit.
“But my favourite period of playing for England was under Roy and I think because we had a trust as well with each other.”
Seeing as England did so poorly at the two tournaments Hodgson oversaw, it’s a surprise Rooney picked him as the man who got the best out of him. He explained how he was sad to see the former Three Lions boss go after Euro 2016.
“I remember seeing the disappointment in Roy and I think we knew then that that was going to be the end of him,” Rooney said.
“I was also starting to think potentially this is the end of my own career as well. I think that moment in that dressing room after the game was the worst I’ve ever felt.”
Manchester United and Tottenham are both pushing to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes in the summer transfer window, and Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on a potential deal.
Fernandes has been one of the biggest talking points in the summer transfer window so far, especially when it comes to the Premier League.
A number of sides in England are interested in the midfielder after West Ham were relegated to the Championship last season.
A departure feels inevitable for the former Southampton man, but it remains to be seen where he could end up.
Despite West Ham being relegated, they are remaining strong with their valuation of the player, not looking to roll over despite dropping down a league.
It certainly helps that multiple clubs are interested in signing Fernandes, meaning a bidding war could ensue.
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Romano Update: Tottenham and Man Utd Push for Fernandes
Reporting on his YouTube channel, Romano has provided an update on Manchester United and Tottenham’s interest in Portuguese midfielder Fernandes.
“I still stand by my own call on this deal. For Mateus Fernandes, Manchester United and Tottenham are still fighting. Tottenham have been there for days, trying to enter, pushing with the player, pushing with his agent. Manchester United remain in contact with West Ham. Man Utd are still working on the Mateus Fernandes deal.”
Romano confirms that both United and Tottenham are ‘pushing like crazy’ to get a deal done, but it’s unclear who is going to win the race at the moment.
There have been claims that Tottenham have reached an agreement with West Ham and Fernandes to secure his signature, but Romano believes that both clubs are still pushing.
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Fernandes Picking the Best Offer
Romano also confirms that Fernandes and West Ham have decided that whoever makes the best financial offer will win the race for the Portuguese midfielder.
If one club offers one penny more, they will win the race, with Fernandes seemingly happy to join either club in the summer transfer window.
That might come as a surprise, with United competing in the Champions League and Tottenham finishing 17th last season.
The West Ham midfielder clearly likes the idea of the Tottenham project and working under Roberto De Zerbi.
It will be interesting to see which club coughs up the most money, as they both seem to have other targets as well in the midfield.
Ivana Knoll, a Croatian model who went viral at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, has started a new career since first being spotted supporting her country.
She became famous instantly after being snapped wearing the iconic red and white checks of her country eight years ago. The 33-year-old then made headlines in Qatar four years ago after many of her outfits went against the country’s strict rules.
Ivana now has almost three million followers on social media and was spotted at Croatia’s 2026 World Cup clashes with England and Panama. She has continued to work as an influencer since her rise to fame, but has now embarked on a new journey.
Ivana Knoll Starts New Career at World Cup
As well as her modelling and influencing commitments, Ivana has now embarked on a journey as a DJ. With the stage name ‘KnollDoll’, the superfan is performing at various venues during this summer’s World Cup.
Before her country were beaten by England in their opening game, she performed at a FIFA Fan Festival in Los Angeles. She’s previously worked with David Guetta and performed at high-profile venues like Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Speaking about the time-consuming new venture after watching Croatia defeat Panama, Knoll told talkSPORT: “I’m amazing. It’s my second game. I came only for Croatia games because now I’m on my DJ tour, my first big US tour.”
She then explained how this is her fourth World Cup, saying: “So I didn’t have time to visit other games, but I’m visiting Croatia games, and this is my fourth World Cup. It’s my routine already. Four World Cups in 16 years. In Brazil, I was very, very young.”
Recalling initially going viral in Russia in 2018, and then gaining even more attention in Qatar, Ivana is delighted to now be watching Croatia in the country she now lives in. She continued:
“In Russia, it was special because we [reached] the final, and I was already going viral in the first game.
“Then in Qatar, I really exploded worldwide, which I never expected. And now it’s here in the country where I live, so I moved to Miami four years ago. It’s amazing.”
Some may even recognise the aspiring DJ from a Formula One event earlier in 2026, when a Sky Sports cameraman appeared to get slightly distracted by her.
Ivana Knoll Names Her Favourite Player ‘as a Person’
Over the years, she’s come into contact with some of the biggest names in world football. However, the 33-year-old claimed to have a particularly pleasant experience when meeting Man City and Norway star Erling Haaland.
“Honestly, personally, who I met and I think is the only player who I really like as a person, is Haaland.
“We have a photo together, and I’m small next to him, and I’m 180.”
She continued: “I know Vinicius [Junior], I know I met Haaland, I know Rafael Leao. They’re all nice guys, you know? So I cannot say anything, but my most impression was with Haaland and his friends. So I think they are very nice people.”
Arsenal are preparing their first offer for Morgan Rogers, according to Football Insider, as the Gunners prepare for changes in their midfield department.
The Premier League champions have had a slightly subdued start to the transfer window compared to some of their rivals so far, with less work to do to stay at the very top.
There is still a desire to strengthen the options available to Mikel Arteta, however, with talks underway to sign Christos Tzolis and Jeremy Monga as squad options.
Then there’s a push for Bruno Guimaraes on the cards, with one bid rejected, and a second expected for the Newcastle midfielder in the coming days.
Arsenal have started to ramp up their interest in key targets, and it seems as though Rogers could be the next option the club pushes to sign.
Morgan Rogers Bid Prepared
With a move for Guimaraes stepping up, Football Insider claims Arsenal are expected to make an opening bid for Rogers in the coming weeks of the transfer window.
The England international is claimed to be a “top target” for the Gunners, though any deal could be tough to strike with Aston Villa.
Rogers has a deal until 2031 at Villa Park, and it’s claimed that Unai Emery’s side are firmly against a sale. That said, any offer worth over £100 million would be enough for them to agree a deal.
It’s unclear what Arsenal’s starting point for the 23-year-old will be, as they set themselves up to make the first offer. However, it could be the start of a long saga that the North London club will hope ends in a deal to sign the versatile forward.
It would be quite the statement of intent from the Gunners too, signing a player who has been described as “one of the world’s best” in recent seasons.
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Arsenal Mean Business In Transfer Window
Arsenal are showing they mean business this summer transfer window, with moves for Bruno Guimaraes and Morgan Rogers. The pair have been quality options for Premier League sides regularly making Europe, who will no doubt command huge fees.
But, after winning the division, it’s clear that the Gunners believe they can do what it takes to convince the stars to move to North London, irrespective of the fees.
That could see them move from strength to strength, platforming a pair of superstars into a team that is already filled with quality and hard-working talent around them.
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Arsenal are set to bid for one of their key transfer targets this summer, having made contact over a move.
It’s unclear whether it will be enough to make the side look more comfortable in the key moments, or if it will get them over the line in pursuit of the Champions League.
However, it shows that Arsenal aren’t happy just winning trophies once. They mean business and intend to do it all over again.
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