Rooney could have future as coach: Southgate

England manager Gareth Southgate believes Wayne Rooney could have a future as a coach or manager and would be happy to help the Everton striker if he held such ambitions.

Rooney announced on Wednesday that he was ending his international career at the age of 31 after scoring 53 goals in 119 appearances.

Southgate had hoped to include Rooney in his squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia.

But when he phoned Rooney he instead heard that England’s all-time record goalscorer wanted to concentrate on club football.

Asked if he thought Rooney possessed the potential to go into coaching or management, Southgate told a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News: “He’s been a pleasure to work with and I am sure at some point in the future there could be some involvement with England.

“Some of that is decisions with what he wants to do with his career.

“I think generally we’re trying to engage former England players more than we have done in the past. Help them along their coaching pathway if that’s the way they want to go.

“In recent months we’ve had John Barnes come in and speak to the senior team and had some other players speak to some of the junior teams. I think it’s important that connection with former England players.”

The England manager had telephoned Rooney to say he wanted him as part of his squad to face Malta and Slovakia only to be told by the striker he was retiring from internationals.

Southgate added: “He said he had been thinking long and hard about the decision and he had decided he was going to announce his international retirement.

“I totally understood his reasoning, moving to Everton and the fresh opportunity he has got there. He feels a sense of loyalty for what they have invested in him.”