David Moyes has revealed that Wayne Rooney would have been his captain if he had remained as Manchester United manager this season.
The Scot was sacked by the Red Devils following their struggles last season, but he has admitted that he had already opted to select Rooney to replace Nemanja Vidic as the club's skipper.
Moyes told The Mirror: "I had identified Wayne as the outstanding candidate to become United's next captain – and Louis van Gaal obviously recognised that when he took over.
"I wouldn't say I recognised Wayne's leadership qualities when I first met him as a 16-year-old boy. But, when I took over at United, it was clear to me that the boy had become a man. Wayne had become a player who led by example.
"When you play for United, when you are one of the players who has carried England for a generation, you are going to mature like that."
Moyes has reportedly been offered a return to football to become manager of La Liga side Real Sociedad.
Simon Sinclair
