Wayne Rooney has appointed Mike Phelan as Plymouth Argyle’s new assistant coach following the departure of Pete Shuttleworth.
Phelan has previously served as assistant coach twice at Manchester United, where Rooney was part of the first team.
The pair will be reunited at Home Park against Plymouth in the Championship after Shuttleworth left for personal reasons.
“I am sad to see Pete leave the club,” Rooney said in a club statement. “He is someone I have worked very closely with throughout my coaching career, the first time we met was at Derby County and he remains a close friend. “Pete has some personal issues he needs to focus on. We all fully respect that and have mutually decided to go our separate ways.”
“We are delighted to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing him hit the ground running.”
Plymouth’s Director of Football Neil Dewsnip also said: “I would like to thank Pete for all his support and efforts since joining Argyle in the summer.”
“We are delighted to have someone of Mike’s calibre as our immediate successor.
“He is one of our most experienced coaches, has worked with some of the best players in the world and obviously has a close relationship with Wayne from their time together at Manchester United.
“We look forward to seeing the direct impact his work will have on the group and hope his experience will fully support Wayne as we head into a very busy period with a number of games.”
Phelan’s coaching career began in 1995 as assistant to Gary Megson at Norwich City, before moving to Blackpool and Stockport County.
He then moved to United as assistant coach to Sir Alex Ferguson, where he won three Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup with the Englishman. Following Ferguson’s resignation in 2013, Phelan also left Old Trafford but returned in 2018 after spells at Norwich and Hull City.
Phelan has stayed at United until 2022 but is now expected to help out club legend Rooney during his time at Plymouth.
The Pilgrims are 22nd in the Championship and one step above relegation behind Cardiff City on goal difference.
Plymouth have won just two of their last 10 league games but talkSPORT understands Rooney is under pressure at the club.
With the busy festive season approaching, it is understandable they would want to give him time to get things under control.
