Speaking on US TV station ESPN, Steve Nicol has been speaking about the vacant Everton manager position and the reports linking Wayne Rooney with the job.
Rooney has been linked to the role at Goodison Park, and while he has a storied history with the Merseyside club, Nicol believes that the Toffees would be fools to appoint the 35-year-old.
Indeed, Nicol says that Rooney would have no chance if he went to Everton, simply because he doesn’t have the experience.
What’s been said about Rooney?
Nicol gave his view on Rooney potentially getting this job.
“I am sorry, how is Wayne’s name there? It’s clear why because he’s played for Everton and he’s a legend at Everton, but really? Is that why you get a job? Has he not looked over at his old club Man United at Ole. There’s no way on this earth that Wayne Rooney has enough experience in management to go and manage a club the size of Everton. I can tell you that from being in the same situation. I managed myself for six months and if someone said to me to go to Everton or Liverpool, I’d have no chance. Wayne Rooney would have no chance,” Nicol said.
Got to start somewhere
We can see where Nicol is coming from, but there’s plenty of evidence to support the exact opposite of his hypothesis.
Every great manager has to start somewhere, and while Rooney isn’t experienced, some of the greatest managers of all-time have been thrown in at the deep end.
Pep Guardiola had never managed a senior club game before taking the reins at Barcelona, and the same can be said of Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid – between them, they won 5 Champions League titles with Spain’s two biggest clubs.
Appointing Rooney would be a gamble, but it may be one worth taking.
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