“He’s gutted”: Wayne Rooney explains why elite 51-yo manager is “devastated” he missed out on United job

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has claimed that Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is “devastated” about his ill-timed chances of becoming the permanent successor to Ruben Amorim. Glasner under consideration Two weeks ago, United confirmed Amorim’s sacking after an extremely turbulent 14 months as head coach. Amorim struggled to achieve consistency at United, guiding the team to a 15th-placed finish last term while also losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Despite a slight improvement this season, skirmishes with some players and ultimately the club hierarchy sealed his fate. United brought in Michael Carrick to serve as caretaker boss until the end of the 2025/26 campaign. Carrick enjoyed a fantastic start to life as interim head coach, leading the Red Devils to a dominant 2-0 derby victory over Manchester City. It’s been widely stated that United will make a permanent appointment in the summer, having carefully considered all their options. One manager believed to be on the list is Glasner. A report covered by The Peoples Person in the immediate aftermath of Glasner’s dismissal relayed that Glasner is a leading candidate for the Old Trafford hot seat. His time in the Premier League has been successful. He led Palace to a historic first major trophy last season, beating City in the FA Cup final. He also secured the Community Shield at the expense of reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. Last weekend, Glasner confirmed that he will be parting ways with the Eagles at the end of the season. In a furious outburst, the Austrian slammed the club’s leadership for their lack of ambition. He said that he and his squad felt “completely abandoned” following the sale of Marc Guehi to City. Glasner is likely to remain a name associated with the United role, but Rooney feels he may have already jeopardised his prospects. Rooney speaks on Glasner Speaking on his podcast [via BBC Sport], Rooney explained, “I think what’s happened is that he’s devastated that he didn’t announce he was leaving two weeks ago and then he possibly might have got the chance of getting the Man United job.” “I think he’s gutted because if he came out and said that he was leaving at the end of the season two weeks ago, maybe Man United would have went to him and spoke to him.” The ex-England international added, “So he’s missed that job and opportunity and I think he’s fuming with that.” “He’s thinking I can’t afford to let any more opportunities slip.” Meanwhile, United return to action on Sunday when they face Arsenal at the Emirates. Featured image Clive Mason via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!