Wayne Rooney is in line to take over as Everton head coach if the club sack Frank Lampard. The Toffees are currently sitting in the Premier League relegation zone with Lampard currently skating on thin ice with team officials.
The Daily Mail suggests that Rooney is on the shortlist to potentially succeed Lampard. Other possible coaching candidates include Sean Dyche and Roberto Martinez. Dyche most recently spent 425 games in charge of Burnley. The club fired the Englishman last season with the team destined for relegation from the top flight.
Everton fans will be quite familiar with Martinez. While he managed to lead the team to fifth in his first season in charge, the Spaniard was never able to replicate the relative success on Merseyside. Everton sacked Martínez after three years at the club.
Wayne Rooney previously turned down the chance to coach Everton
Rooney began his playing career in the Premier League with the Toffees. Then the Goodison Park outfit offered him the chance to manage the club. However, he claimed that he turned down the proposal while coaching Derby County. The Rams went into administration, and Rooney wanted to help the club’s attempts to right the ship. However, Derby were relegated after the 2021/22 campaign.
Now with Major League Soccer’s DC United, Rooney hasn’t exactly been a hit in the United States, either. The England legend has managed to win just two of the 14 games in charge of him in the nation’s capital. Moving to a Premier League club while United are out for the season could be too good an opportunity to pass up.
Lampard needs victories to save the job
Lampard helped save Everton from relegation last season after arriving in January. However, the Toffees are back in the fight to stay in the Premier League. Everton are currently sitting 18th in the league table. Lampard suggested on Thursday that he doesn’t need guarantees from club bosses, but victories are needed to save his job.
Everton are winless in their last six Premier League games. And they only have one win in their last 10 league games. Lampard will try to advance in the FA Cup on Friday when the club take on Manchester United next. A disaster at Old Trafford could well spell Lampard’s last game in charge of Everton.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
