Rafael Benitez was sacked as Everton manager in January 2022 following a run of unimpressive results, having lost seven of his last ten Premier League games in charge, the latest being a 2-1 away defeat to relegation-threatened Norwich City. Former Everton forward Duncan Ferguson has since assumed the role of interim manager while the search for a permanent manager is ongoing.
Wayne Rooney Reveals Why He Rejected Everton Job
Rooney Focused on His Job as Derby County Manager
As possible candidates for the Everton job, names like Roberto Martinez, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Frank Lampard, Vitor Pereira and Wayne Rooney have all been considered. Rooney, who is the youngest of them all, could probably have had an advantage as an ex-player of the club, however, he has turned down the job, and as things stand, either of Lampard and Pereira are favourites to land the job.
The 36-year old English manager disclosed his reason for rejecting the offer to replace Benitez as Everton manager. Speaking ahead of the Championship fixture between Derby County and Birmingham on January 30, 2021, here is what Rooney said;
“Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the vacant job, which I turned down. I believe that I will be a Premier League manager and I believe I’m ready for that 100 per cent, and if that is with Everton one day in the future that’d be absolutely great. But I’ve got a job here to do at Derby County which is an important job to me.”
Having served as player-manager at Derby County, Rooney announced his retirement from professional football in January 2021 to become a full-time manager at the club. He has done quite an impressive job at the club, having had to fight through a 12-point deduction penalty imposed on them, as they currently sit 23rd on the table.
In their quest for a new manager, Everton will hope to land the right man to help turn things around at the club, as they sit 16th on the Premier League table- just above the relegation zone.
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