Rooney appoints Phelan as Plymouth assistant

Mike Phelan has also coached at Blackpool, Norwich City, and Hull City - for whom he also had a spell as manager

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has been appointed as Wayne Rooney's new assistant head coach at Plymouth Argyle.

The 62-year-old, who spent nine years coaching at Old Trafford in two spells, replaces Pete Shuttleworth, who has left the club by mutual consent.

"Mike is someone I know well having worked with him when I was a player at Manchester United and he has vast experience at the highest level of football," said Rooney in a statement on Plymouth's website.

"I am really pleased to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing him get to work immediately."

Phelan's appointment comes after a difficult run of form for Argyle, who have won just one of their last nine matches.

They have conceded 10 goals in their last two games - a 6-1 loss at Norwich City and 4-0 defeat at Bristol City.

Saturday's game with Oxford United was postponed due to Storm Darragh and results elsewhere have left the Pilgrims third from bottom in the Championship.

Peter Shuttleworth (left) was brought in by Wayne Rooney as assistant head coach after he took over the side in May

Shuttleworth, 45, was appointed as Rooney's number two in June and had assisted the former England skipper throughout his managerial career, working alongside him at Birmingham City, DC United and Derby County.

Shuttleworth has also worked with the Republic of Ireland as a coach, and was in the dugout when they played England in their Uefa Nations League match at Wembley last month.

"I am sad to see Pete leave the club," added Rooney. "He is someone I have worked with very closely throughout my managerial career, having first met at Derby County and he has also been a close friend.

"Pete has some personal matters going on which is where his focus needs to be and we all completely respect that and have mutually decided to part ways."

Phelan worked with Rooney when he was a player at Manchester United and helped coach the Red Devils to three Premier League titles, a Fifa Club World Cup, two League Cups, and two Champions League finals.

He ended his first spell at Old Trafford when Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 but returned to support Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2018, staying at the club until 2022.

"We are thrilled to bring in someone of Mike's calibre so quickly as a replacement," added Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip.

"He is one of the most experienced coaches around, having worked with some of the best players in the world and obviously has a relationship with Wayne already from their time together at Manchester United.

"We look forward to seeing his work have an immediate impact on the group and hope his experience will provide the perfect support to Wayne as we head into a very busy period of fixtures."

Rooney and Phelan's relationship goes back to when the pair were both at Manchester United working under Sir Alex Ferguson

Analysis

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport, Plymouth

Mike Phelan's appointment shows Plymouth Argyle are very much backing Rooney at the helm at Home Park.

The former England skipper has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as results start to slide.

The Pilgrims have the worst away record in the second tier and Rooney was highly critical of his side in their last two losses - a week he said was the hardest of his managerial career.

While Phelan will bring experience on to the training field, what he cannot do is get some of Argyle's better players fit.

Rooney is without influential forwards such as Morgan Whittaker, Ibrahim Cissoko and Muhamed Tijani until the New Year, while captain Joe Edwards is also sidelined.

Argyle fans will hope the club's backing will extend into next month's transfer window, with the club in desperate need to bring in attacking reinforcements to boost a battle against relegation.