Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has revealed that he would like to become a top-class manager in the future.

The 24-year-old was speaking as he collected the 2010 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award.

Rooney topped the poll of journalists with just over 81 per cent of a record number of votes cast, finishing ahead of Chelsea forward Didier Drogba and Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez to win the prestigious accolade, which has been running since 1948.

Both United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and England coach Fabio Capello were present to watch Rooney receive his award at the FWA’s Barclays-sponsored gala dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel on Thursday night.

It completed a clean sweep for Rooney who also won the PFA Player of the Season award and the Barclays Player of the Season trophy.

It was some consolation for missing out to Chelsea for the Barclays Premier League title and to Drogba for the Barclays Golden Boot.

Rooney, who scored 26 goals in the Barclays Premier League this term, said it was a privilege to follow the likes of World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton to be named Footballer of the Year, and revealed he intended to stay involved in the game for many years to come.

“I would like to [step into management],” Rooney said.

“I joined Everton when I was nine years old and football has been a massive part of my life. When you do stop playing, I want to be involved in football.

“I started doing my coaching badges this year, and probably did not do as many classes as I would have liked. Hopefully I can continue them next year.

“I love football and enjoy football – I can’t see myself running a restaurant, I want to be in football.

“But now I am only 24. Hopefully I can progress and the best years are still ahead of me.

“I am always learning every day, and take things in from all my team-mates. As a player you are never the finished article. I want to keep learning and getting better.”

Rooney’s immediate attention, however, will now turn to the World Cup.

The striker has been struggling with ankle and groin problems since United’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich on 30th March.

But now Rooney is focused on recovering full fitness and is relishing leading England’s World Cup campaign in South Africa as Fabio Capello’s squad aim to emulate the 1966 success.

England line-up in Group C in South Africa alongside Algeria and Slovenia and begin their campaign against the United States in Rustenburg on 12th June.

Rooney, who is regarded as integral to England’s hopes this summer, added: “There’s a week’s break now before we meet up with England and I am looking forward to the biggest tournament in the world and I cannot wait for that first game.

“The expectation is for other people to talk about and think about.

“For me I am just looking to get myself right to get to the World Cup and do my best and with a bit of luck, hopefully we can be successful.”

Source: premierleague.com