It does seem to be the general rule Ade that talented players often struggle to translate their skills and experience into becoming good managers, but there are some pretty famous exceptions - Johan Cruyff being an obvious one.

It would be a shame if talented players were not at least given an opportunity to prove their worth.

And don't forget, some of the very best managers have failed at clubs before rebuilding to become a success elsewhere.

Check out the Sir Alex documentary on BBC iPlayer to find out more about how he was sacked by St Mirren!

While we are on the subject, it seems like a good moment to wish Sir Alex Ferguson many happy returns on his 83rd birthday.

Enjoy the story below about his tutelage in the art of mindgames from one of the very best...Jock Stein.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Wayne Rooney deserves credit for taking the Plymouth job in the first place but the odds were always stacked against him.

Plymouth has the potential to be a decent sized Championship club but is handicapped by geography, which makes getting players from the bigger cities incredibly difficult without spending more on wages.

The club has a data model, which led them to recruit a youthful squad, but sources say it lacked the experience to keep them up and a major decision is looming next month over whether to buy for survival or keep going and accept relegation could be the consequence.

As for Rooney, it is another underwhelming short spell as a manager following on from his time at Birmingham. The question is whether clubs will continue to offer chances to someone who did OK with Derby and DC United without really setting the world alight.

The former England and Manchester United skipper will always be in demand as a TV pundit as he has shown himself to be quite fearless in his assessments, very much in the Roy Keane mould.

It is easy to see him settling into that role unless, like former international team-mate Frank Lampard, an opening appears from an unexpected source.

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie, Plymouth: Judging by the current thumbs-up reaction to Wayne Rooney leaving Argyle, this may not be popular but he's had an extensive injury list of first-team players most of his tenure - surely a reflection of a relatively small squad size, intensity of the Championship versus League One with no 'easy' games and no ability to rest or withdraw players mid-match. We can see from Mr Guardiola - probably the best coach of his generation - how difficult that is to deal with. Hard though it may have been, especially with media headlines, I had hoped Rooney would be given the transfer window and more time. Thank you for your service Mr Rooney.

Image source, Getty Images

In the Championship this season, Plymouth Argyle have faced the most shots (391), the most shots on target (141), have the highest xG against total (44) and have conceded the most goals (51).

Going forward it wasn't much better, as Plymouth ranked joint-lowest for goals scored in the league (22).

Stats from Opta.

Image source, Getty Images

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Wayne Rooney's time at Home Park has not been without its problems - particularly with injuries in attack.

Striker Muhamed Tijani was brought in from Slavia Prague but has played just three times due to injury, while exciting winger Ibrahim Cissoko has missed large chunks of the season as well.

Experienced Argyle hands such as Morgan Whittaker and Joe Edwards have also been out with injury as Plymouth have looked, especially away from home, directionless at times.

Just four wins at home and a string of awful away performances have left Argyle with little choice but to change direction in the hope of staying up.

What the future holds for Rooney is less certain. He was well-received as a pundit during last summer's Euros, but after failing at Birmingham City and now Plymouth Argyle it would be a brave board that would appoint him to a management role any time soon.

Argyle must now look for a third permanent manager in eight months - whoever it is has a huge task trying to keep the Pilgrims in the second tier.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Rooney's time at Argyle has proved, like his spell at Birmingham City, to be unsuccessful.

The Home Park hierarchy were quick to say that he had been impressive when interviewing for the job and that the appointment was not a publicity stunt.

But the fan base was divided when he was appointed in May, with many saying his record want not good enough, while others welcoming a chance for a club like Argyle to have such a high profile man in charge.

With that high profile has come high scrutiny, and as the losses mounted up so did the pressure on the club - arguably more so than had they had a less well-recognised name.

Plymouth Argyle was Wayne Rooney's fourth role in management and the first since he was sacked by Birmingham City on 2 January after a disappointing reign of less than three months in which he lost nine of 15 games.

The 39-year-old former England and Manchester United striker entered management at Derby County during a period of financial difficulties for the club. He led the Rams to Championship survival in May 2021 in his first season in charge, but left a year later following the club's relegation after Derby had been docked a total of 21 points for breaching the EFL's financial rules.

He spent 15 months as boss of DC United in the United States, but left in October 2023 to take on the Birmingham job, having failed to guide the Washington-based side to the Major League Soccer (MLS) play-offs.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha has been banned for two games by the Football Association following his clash with Ipswich security earlier this month.

The Brazil striker was charged with misconduct after he elbowed a member of the Tractor Boys' staff before snatching his glasses off his face.

Cunha, who has also been fined £80,000, will miss Wolves' Premier League game with Nottingham Forest and the FA Cup third-round trip to Bristol City.

Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney leaves Plymouth Argyle with the Devon club bottom of the Championship on 18 points, four points from safety.

The former England captain led Plymouth to only four wins this season from their 23 league matches, which is the joint-lowest in the division.

The Championship side failed to win any of their past nine games, losing six of them. The most recent a 2-0 defeat by Oxford United on Sunday.

Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney's assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first-team coach Simon Ireland will also leave their roles at Plymouth, the club has announced.

First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will lead the team for Plymouth's Championship match against Bristol City on New Year’s Day, while Daryl Flahavan will continue as goalkeeping coach.

Plymouth Argyle

Image source, Getty Images

On his departure from Plymouth Argyle, Wayne Rooney said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip, who I shared great relationships with.

"Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future.

"To the Green Army - thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.

"I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support.

"Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results."

Plymouth Argyle

Championship sidePlymouth Argyle have confirmed they have mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Wayne Rooney with immediate effect.

More to follow.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on the Football Daily podcast

I thought Chelsea played OK at times - they dominated possession, they just lacked a little bit of quality in the final third.

Enzo Maresca had a drop off at Leicester in his managerial career last year after they went so far ahead in the Championship. The gap narrowed over new year and Christmas and they had to come back and find answers there. This is the first time this season that he is going to have to find answers.

Before the Everton game they were nine wins in a row in all competitions and a draw there, a defeat at home against Fulham and a defeat against Ipswich - a game you would expect them to win. It was a frustrating night for him and his players.

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Newcastle had gone four league games without a win before winning their last four. What do you think has changed, Newcastle fans?