Wayne Rooney outlines aim to manage Everton later in career
Wayne Rooney has admitted that managing Everton or Manchester United “would be a dream” as calls for Frank Lampard’s sacking grow ever larger.
The 37-year-old is currently managing MLS side D.C. United after leaving Derby County in the summer, but outlined his plans to return to the English top-flight later in his coaching career.
The ex-Everton player, who played for The Toffees in two stints at the beginning and end of his career, is an old teammate of current manager Lampard, who has come under pressure as boss following a recent plunge in form.
Speaking to CNN ahead of the Globe Soccer Awards, Rooney said: “Obviously, Everton and Manchester United are the two clubs who are really close to my heart so to manage one of the two would be a dream.
“I’m still gaining a lot of experience from what I’m doing. You want to learn, and I want to go into Everton and Manchester United, I want to go in there and be able to give the best version of me.
“I’d be naive to say I’m going to go and manage Manchester United in the next year or so.
“For me, it’s about putting the work in and developing myself and if I do that and I do it in the right way, then I feel these jobs, these opportunities will come to me eventually.”
Unfortunate timing
Rooney’s comments couldn’t have come at a worse time and could quite possibly be the final nail in Frank Lampard’s coffin.
After Tuesday night’s 4-1 thrashing at Bournemouth, the pressure on Lampard has reached breaking point, as a lack of goals and creativity has seen his side slip precariously close to the Premier League relegation zone.
Only Wolves have scored fewer than Everton’s 11 goals this season, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured once again, it is hard to see how The Toffees are going to score enough goals to win games on a consistent basis.
A current run of five defeats in seven matches is certainly not what fans wanted to see before the World Cup break, and a defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday could be the end of the Englishman’s time in the Goodison dugout.
Although Lampard remains under pressure, Rooney isn’t exactly pulling up trees, as his D.C. United side still remain firmly rooted at the bottom of the MLS table.