Former Carlisle United coach Nathan Rooney has landed a top job in Northern Ireland.

He has been appointed as head coach at NIFL Premiership champions Larne.

The move sees Rooney end a successful spell with Gibraltarian outfit FC Bruno's Magpies.

The 35-year-old, who was a United coach during Steven Pressley's spell in charge at Brunton Park, led the Magpies into European football in successive seasons during a two-and-a-half year spell in charge.

He now heads to County Antrim for his next challenge.

Rooney spoke of his joy at making the move, telling the Larne website:  “I’m delighted to join such a hard-working football club with such great history.

“The squad of players excite me a lot and I am eager to get to work on the training ground with all the experts within the backroom team and I am hoping that all the energy we create allows us to implement, continue and enhance all the teams’ performances which wear the Larne badge."

Majority shareholder Kenny Bruce said Rooney was their "number one target" to replace Derry City-bound Tiernan Lynch.

"He is a manager who has shown that he has a clear style of play, his enthusiasm is infectious and we believe he is a brilliant leader," he said.

“Nathan comes to us with 17 years of coaching and management experience under his belt and we are convinced that he is the person to lead us into the next stage of our journey."

He takes charge of a Larne side who are in the UEFA Conference League, and who currently sit ninth in the domestic table, having won consecutive league titles as well as four successive County Antrim Shields.

Rooney, right, with Gavin Skelton at United during the 2019/20 seasonRooney, right, with Gavin Skelton at United during the 2019/20 season (Image: Richard Parkes)

Rooney was brought in to United as a first-team coach by Pressley in the summer of 2019, in a loan arrangement with Fleetwood Town.

He then moved on from the Blues that December, after Pressley's departure was followed by the arrival of Chris Beech as head coach.

The former Blackburn Rovers and Crawley Town man has also had a brief spell as manager of Colne Town

A stint followed as manager of English non-league side Colne Town before heading to Gibraltar in January 2022. He left in 2023 for a spell with Espinho in Portugal before returning to the Magpies later that year.

He guided the club into the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time, and this summer claimed a surprise victory over Derry City before going out to Danish club FC Copenhagen.

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Rooney, during his time in Gibraltar, has occasionally been linked with jobs in the EFL.