Ex-Arsenal star Jack Wilshere named as the favourite for vacant manager’s job in League One – and he could follow in former Premier League rival’s footsteps

Jack Wilshere is being tipped to continue his managerial career with Plymouth Argyle.

The Pilgrims are looking for a new boss to lead them in League One next season following their recent relegation from the Championship.

David Wagner, Ian Evatt, Adin Osmanbasic, Des Buckingham and Jim Goodwin have all been touted as possible candidates.

However, Wilshere is currently the odds-on favourite with bookmakers to land the job previously occupied by his former England team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Rooney was in charge at Home Park from May last year until he was sacked on New Year’s Eve after winning just five of his 25 games.

He was replaced by Miron Muslic in January but the Austrian vacated the role to join Schalke last week.

Plymouth will play in League One next season after being relegated from the Championship

Muslic’s decision to move on did not go down well among Plymouth chiefs and the club published a statement expressing frustration.

It read: ‘Argyle can confirm that we have reluctantly allowed Head Coach Miron Muslic to open talks with a 2. Bundesliga side after he expressed his desire to speak with the German team and not return to England.

‘Despite regular communication since the end of the season, and no mention of any issues, Miron has now made it clear that, after extended periods away from his family, this opportunity provides him the chance to be closer to them after four years on the road.

‘We are frustrated by this decision, having implemented clear structures, processes and personnel to aid Miron and his coaching staff as we look to return to the Sky Bet Championship at the earliest opportunity.

‘Not only that, the club have also moved quickly to bring in new signings and received repeated verbal promises from Miron that he was committed to Argyle and would do everything to help the club bounce back to the second tier.

‘Muslic joined the Greens in January 2025, on a three-and-a-half-year contract, after a period out of the game having departed Cercle Brugge.

‘He will now leave Argyle just four months into that long-term commitment.’

Wilshere has made no secret of his desire to forge a career in management.

Wilshere began his managerial career with Arsenal’s U18s shortly after retiring from playing

He ended the 2024-25 season as Norwich City’s interim manager, taking charge of two games

In July 2022, just four days after announcing his retirement as a player, Wilshere became the head coach of Arsenal’s Under-18 team.

Having led his Gunners side to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season, he departed north London in April to become the interim manager at Norwich City.

Wilshere took charge of Norwich’s final two games of the 2024-25 campaign and delivered two impressive results.

He started with a creditable 0-0 draw away at Middlesbrough, a result that ended a run of three straight defeats.

Norwich then ended the season by beating Cardiff City 4-2 in an entertaining finale.