Wayne Rooney stated his most enjoyable years with England occurred during the tenure of Roy Hodgson. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the former striker praised the clarity of instructions and the environment established by the manager. Rooney played under several coaches including Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello, and Sam Allardyce during a 13-year international career.
He noted that Hodgson allowed the squad to play with more freedom compared to previous regimes. The former Manchester United forward earned 120 caps for his country and scored 53 goals before his international retirement in 2017. Rooney highlighted that the tactical approach under Hodgson suited his game during the latter stages of his career, according to Sky Sports.
Hodgson managed the national side between 2012 and 2016, overseeing campaigns at two European Championships and the 2014 World Cup. Despite mixed tournament results, Rooney maintained that the daily working relationship with the coaching staff was the best he experienced, per The Guardian.
