Karen Carney has urged Everton to hire a ‘dream’ management team of Derby County boss Wayne Rooney with Duncan Ferguson as his assistant head coach to replace Rafa Benitez.
Owner Farhad Moshiri is now seeking his sixth permanent managerial appointment and the seventh coach of his Goodison Park tenure. The Toffees chief fired Benitez last Sunday after losing at relegation-threatened Norwich City for his 11th defeat over 22 games at the helm.
Benitez lasted six-months and 19 Premier League matches on the blue side of Stanley Park. He also oversaw a Carabao Cup third-round exit at Championship Queens Park Rangers. While the Blues needed extra-time to beat second-tier Hull City in the FA Cup third-round.
Derby boss Rooney is among the candidates Everton want to interview for their manager’s position, per The Telegraph. However, Ian McGarry has claimed on the Transfer Window Podcast that he would be ‘extremely sceptical’ over taking up the Goodison Park hot seat.
The former Toffees striker has concerns over the way Moshiri and the board have run the Merseyside club. Everton juggled Financial Fair Play issues last summer which kept Benitez to a total £1.6m outlay. They also parted with former Director of Football Marcel Brands.
Carney urges Everton hire Rooney with Ferguson as No2
Ferguson has made it clear to Moshiri that he would happily replace Benitez as Everton’s manager, per the Daily Mail. The Goodison hero is currently in interim charge whilst the club sound out possible replacements, such as Rooney.
But Carney has noted in a column for The Guardian that Everton should keep Ferguson as the assistant boss and bring Rooney back to Merseyside from Derby as their next manager.
“For me, the dream would be Duncan Ferguson as assistant alongside Rooney,” she wrote. “When Rooney came through at Everton, Ferguson was the one who looked after him.
“He would drive him to training, act as a protector on the pitch and also don boxing gloves – the pair would spar together in the club’s gym.
“Rooney idolised Ferguson growing up and they became good friends during their playing days, a bond that could help get Everton back to their best.
“Ferguson knows how to get the best out of Rooney. He knew his teammate was at his best on the pitch when angry, so would get him fired up before matches. Having an assistant who knows how a manager ticks is integral and this seems a perfect match.”
Rooney has overseen 64 games at Derby since the Everton product took his first step into management as the Rams’ caretaker boss in November 2020. The Pride Park outfit have won eight of their 26 Championship fixtures so far this season, while drawing 11.
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