Rio Ferdinand gives ideal Wayne Rooney Everton managerial scenario
Rio Ferdinand believes Wayne Rooney would take the Everton job ‘in a heartbeat’ but has laid out the perfect scenario to get him to Goodison Park.
Rafa Benitez was sacked by the Toffees following defeat to Norwich, making it just one win in 13 games in the Premier League.
Wayne Rooney has been one of the top names linked with the vacant role [Sky Sports], and former teammate Ferdinand recently spent time with him the Derby coach and revealed he was very impressed with what he saw to his ‘Vibe with Five‘ podcast.
“It is such a different person behind closed doors,’ Ferdinand said. ‘Yes they are a young squad, he has given out a hell of a lot of debuts but their reactions, they are transfixed. He spoke with such authority and a calmness, didn’t waste a word.
”A lot of things he was saying was about trust – ‘I trust you, I believe in all of you’ – and you can see why they have that fight for him and that togetherness. He is instilling it with his staff.
‘I saw a different Wayne Rooney to the one I grew up with and saw grow up at Man United, it was a real positive experience. It was the confidence and I didn’t expect it from such a young coach.
“Wazza is good at detail, his game was about detail. People would think it was hustle and bustle and bang, a shot out of nowhere but to be the player he was you had to understand details and it is about translating that into the team.
“He was taking people off to the side saying “I want this, I want that” and it was really good. I’m not saying he is the next Sir Alex or the next Pep but he is on the right track.
“You take the job in a heartbeat (if you’re Rooney),” Ferdinand said. “If he could have it his way, I’m sure he’d say ‘listen, keep Big Dunc as the interim, let me keep Derby up and I’ll be there in the summer’ but that’s hugely unlikely.”
Ideal
That sounds like a great solution for Everton and Rooney long-term, but unfortunately, the Toffees need something now.
They’re in a true relegation scrap now in the second half of the season because of the poor half-season under Benitez, and they need someone to come in and do more than just tick them over until the summer.
While Duncan Ferguson has done the interim job in the past, he was only in charge for four games and never had to deal with any adversity during that spell.
The club need experience at the helm to navigate their problems now and while Rooney isn’t experienced himself, he’s been through this with Derby for the last year.
The signs are encouraging on Rooney’s managerial career, but this job is just too soon for him considering Everton’s needs.
In other Everton news, ‘Contacts in last hours’ – Everton make move for new manager ‘top of their list’ – report