Wayne Rooney rejects interview for Everton job as he explains decision in statement

Posted Saturday, January 29, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Derby County boss Wayne Rooney will not be returning to Goodison Park as Everton manager after revealing he has turned down the chance to interview for the position left vacant by Rafael Benitez

Wayne Rooney has rejected an interview for the Everton manager's job and will not replace Rafael Benitez at Goodison Park.

Rooney had been one of the frontrunners for the job, which has been vacant following Benitez's sacking earlier this month.

Speaking ahead of Derby's fixture against Birmingham on Sunday, Rooney revealed that he has turned down an invitation to interview for the role.

He said: "Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the job. I turned it down.

"I believe I will be a Premier League manager and am ready for that 100 per cent. But I have a job at Derby, which is important to me."

Wayne Rooney rejects interview for Everton job as he explains decision in statement
Wayne Rooney has turned down an interview for the Everton manager's job

Rooney has won significant plaudits for the job he has done at Derby this season.

Against all the odds and with the handicap of a 21-point deduction, the Rams are still in with a chance of avoid relegation from the Championship.

While nowhere near as serious as Derby's situation, Everton have had a disastrous season so far.

The Toffees are dreadfully out of form and sit just four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

They have been without a first-team boss since Benitez was sacked following defeat to Norwich on January 18th.

Wayne Rooney rejects interview for Everton job as he explains decision in statement
Rafael Benitez was sacked after defeat to Norwich (Image: PA)

Duncan Ferguson assumed temporary charge of the side for last week's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Rooney had been one of the leading candidates for the role, alongside Ferguson, Frank Lampard and Vitor Pereira.

Pereira has been in the running for the Everton job twice before but missed out to Roberto Martinez in 2013 and Marco Silva in 2018.

Earlier this week he offered his vision to the club's supporters.

"What I felt from the club, I think they were enthusiastic [about] what I proposed to them: an intensive game, a pressing game, a game with possession," Pereira said.

Wayne Rooney rejects interview for Everton job as he explains decision in statement
Vitor Pereira has been linked with the job (Image: Getty Images)

"We need to give confidence again to the players and the team. We need to approach the fantastic supporters to the team again.

"This is what I proposed to them and what I felt in the meetings is that they were very positive with the interviews. The feedback from the interviews was good feedback."

Everton's search for a new manager continues.