Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has said he rejected a job interview with Everton in hope that one day he will take over at Manchester United.
Speaking to the Sun, the Championship coach and former Toffee superstar revealed that he was approached by his boyhood club over the vacant manager position following the sacking of Rafa Benitez, yet Rooney turned down the opportunity for an interview.
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As per the all-time England goalscorer’s words, Rooney is instead eyeing the United job over a return to Everton, with the 36-year-old coach some years away from taking over a club as big as the Red Devils.
Whilst a return to Goodison Park would have been a fairytale return for Rooney, his lack of experience in management would have made him a risky option to take over such a high-stakes job, with Frank Lampard instead appointed for the role.
However, Rooney’s latest comments seem to indicate that the English manager has bigger aspirations in his coaching career than just Everton, with the Championship boss already eyeing a return to United in the coming years.
Rooney said: “The whole reason in me going into management is Manchester United. I got offered the job interview for the Everton job. I want to be Manchester United manager. I know I am not ready now but I have to plan everything I do to make sure one day it will happen.”
Everton could be perfect next club for Rooney despite United dream
Whilst Rooney continues to fight relegation with Derby, the thought of the England legend one day managing United feels unrealistic, for now. Yet a return to Everton in the next one or two years does seem like a plausible move.
After all, Rooney has a strong connection with Everton given his love for the club, and if Lampard’s time with the Toffees’ is to come to an end, the former United striker could be ideal as a project manager for the Goodison Park club.
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