Rooney will manage Manchester United after Solskjaer - Rio Ferdinand

Rooney, 33, will complete the current MLS season before linking up with Phillip Cocu and his Derby teammates in January, after signing an 18-month contract, which has the option of an additional year. [Courtesy]

Wayne Rooney wants to become a Manchester United manager, according to former teammate Rio Ferdinand.

Rooney's move to Derby County in January as a player-coach was confirmed by the Rams on Tuesday.

The former Everton star flew into the UK on Tuesday morning to finalise the Derby County deal after moving from DC United.

According to former Man United defender Ferdinand, Rooney has a plan to take Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's place in the dugout, echoing ex-England colleague and former Derby boss Frank Lampard, who recently got his big chance at Chelsea after Maurizio Sarri’s exit.

"His endgame is managing Manchester United, 100 per cent. It's a fact. If he tells you any different, he's lying. He will want to do that.

"Only time will tell if he's going to be the man to be able to do that. A lot of things have got to marry up for that to happen. Frank was the right place, right time.

"Can that happen for Wayne? We'll see,” Ferdinand told journalists.

Ferdinand believes Rooney’s poker-face will stand him a good chance as he moves into the coaching side of the game. [Courtesy]

Ferdinand heaped praise on Rooney and believes he has the relevant qualifications and is mature enough to manage a big club like United.

"He's not scared of sharing his opinion, which is a good thing. He can be hard to read sometimes, which I think is something that's good to have in a manager as well.

"I think he's got a good understanding of today’s player. He's that age. He's still connected to the younger generation. He can talk the language,” said Ferdinand.

"There are a lot of managers out there now who are a bit detached from the next generation. It's so different now,” he concluded.

Rooney is United’s record goalscorer, netting 253 times in 559 appearances in all competitions.