Wayne Rooney opens up on why he rejected chance to be Everton manager
Wayne Rooney says he rejected Everton last month out of loyalty to his players and staff at Derby, and because he could not be a hypocrite.
The ex-Toffees captain was one of the first names to come out as a potential replacement when Rafael Benitez was sacked, but ultimately turned down the chance to be interviewed for the job.
Frank Lampard was eventually named as the new boss, and the Rams manager has told the Daily Mail: “I have been here now for over three years as player and manager and you build relationships up with players, first of all as team-mates, then as manager, and with staff.
“Everything I am asking of those players in terms of hard work, honesty, trust, commitment…if I was just to turn round and say ‘I have had an offer, I’m off’, I honestly couldn’t do that to the players and the staff.
“I could see once Benitez was sacked and my name was getting linked with Everton that the staff were down and they were scared that if I left, where did that leave the club. I know they have been looking to me to try and help rebuild this club.
“I spoke to the staff and said: ‘I am stood in front of you and I am with you. Whatever is being said out there, I am with you.’ I think that was big for them.”
Honourable decision
It was widely felt that if Everton owner Farhad Moshiri had approached the former England captain, his life-long affinity for the club would have made it hard for him to say no.
But the record England and Manchester United goalscorer proved a lot of people wrong by staying true to his current situation and refusing to leave Derby in the difficult situation they are in.
Rooney’s men are currently second from bottom in the Championship and seven points adrift of safety, having had 22 points deducted amid a season of turmoil.
Off-field problems have seen the club go into administration and lose the majority of their playing squad from last season.
It is a situation that the manager fell into almost by default after his was brought to Pride Park from DC United in Major League Soccer as a player-coach under Phillip Cocu.
However, the Dutchman was sacked in November of his second season and the captain was elevated to player-manager before subsequently retiring from playing to take on the role full time.
Against all sorts of adversity Rooney has stuck to the task and is growing a strong reputation with the job he is doing, one that his honour would not let him leave half way through.
In other Everton news, another former Everton favourite has hailed the fans after the big FA Cup win.