Career
He played for Shamrock Rovers, Home Farm and Street Patrick"s Athletic and coached football and Gaelic Football teams. He continued to play football and became a football manager eventually managing the Republic of Ireland women"s national football team from 1986 - 1992. Rooney started his career in the Irish Government sector which he joined from school, with various roles in the Postal, Telecoms and Civil Aviation sectors.
He spent 16 years there, educating himself part-time.
Desmond, Rooney and Michael Smurfit then acquired Baltimore Technologies, and Rooney served as Chief Executive Officer from 1996-2001. In 1998 Bill Clinton and Bertie Ahern signed an Electronic Commerce deal using Baltimore"s technology.
Baltimore Technologies was Company of the Year in 1998 and 2000. He was Bank of Ireland Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001.
In July 2001, Rooney quit Baltimore Technologies.
He was Chief Executive Officer of the Football Association of Ireland from May 2003 to November 2004.
