Everton news: Wayne Rooney ‘turned down contact’ as Toffees’ manager search goes on | Football | Sport
Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney has apparently bypassed the opportunity to speak to Everton about taking over as manager. The Toffees are on the lookout for a new boss after they sacked Rafa Benitez earlier this month and had been tipped to make a move for Rooney, who is currently in charge of Championship side Derby County.
“Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the job,” Rooney said on Friday. “Turned down. I believe I will be a Premier League manager and am ready for that 100 per cent. But I have a job at Derby, which is important to me.”
Rooney has led his current club to eight victories and 11 draws this season and has been extolled for the job he has done under difficult circumstances in the east Midlands.
The Rams were hit with a 21-point deduction earlier this season following historical financial breaches.
The side had been bottom of the table for much of the season but have now moved to 23rd after leapfrogging strugglers Barnsley.
If it weren’t for their points penalty, Derby would actually be 15th in the Championship table.
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He also lifted the Champions League trophy in 2008 and the Club World Cup the following year, before winning the Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2017.
Rooney returned to Everton for a second spell towards the end of his career and made a further 40 appearances for the club.
He then enjoyed a year with DC United in the USA before ending his playing days with Derby.
He took the helm at Derby on an interim basis while still playing but decided to hang up his boots a year ago as he was appointed manager on a full-time basis.
Rooney has been tipped to move on to bigger and better things and admitted last week that he was “flattered” by the interest from Everton.
“Of course Everton is a club I grew up supporting,” he said.
“I’m flattered to get brought up in those conversations, but I know Everton know that to have any communication with me they have to go through the [Derby County] administrators.”
It therefore appears that Rooney will opt to stay where he is for now – but the 36-year-old will surely take his opportunity to manage in the top-flight before long.
Former Fenerbahce manager Vitor Pereira had appeared to be close to landing the Everton job, but his appointment seems to have been derailed following fan protests. Frank Lampard is also thought to be in the running to take over from Benitez.
