Everton manager news: Wayne Rooney set to be overlooked as Toffees go back for the future
- Paul Okey
- 17 January 2022
Former boss Roberto Martinez now favourite to replace Rafael Benitez despite Rooney’s heroics at Derby.
Wayne Rooney is working wonders with limited resources at Derby County but it appears the Everton job may have come soon for the former Toffees favourite - at least if the bookies are to be believed.
While Benitez remained at the helm at Goodison, Rooney's odds were shortening and he was installed as favourite following Everton's less than convincing victory over Hull City in the FA Cup.
However, despite guiding the Rams to another impressive victory at the weekend, Rooney looks set to be overlooked for the vacant manager's role at Everton, with former boss Roberto Martinez now a firm favourite to replace Rafa.
Martinez was in charge at Goodison Park for three seasons, winning 61 of his 143 matches in charge to give him a 42.7% win percentage. He also guided them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup
Nevertheless, he was sacked with one match of the 2015/16 season remaining.
They won just five league games at home all season and finished with their lowest points tally at Goodison Park since the introduction of three points for a win in 1981.
But despite Martinez leaving the Toffees in a lowly 12th and subsequently failing to transform Belgium from nearly men to major trophy winners, Everton look set to give him a second chance.
It makes little sense. Martinez is under a contract which contains a £2million release clause and has succumbed to relegation from the top flight before - as manager of Wigan.
Rooney, meanwhile, despite Derby's 21-point deduction, has lifted the Rams off the foot of the Championship and given their fans genuine hope they can pull off the most unlikely of survival acts.
Benitez was never the right fit for Everton but at least Rooney would be guaranteed the supporters' backing from the start - let's not forget it was fan discontent which led to Martinez departing first time around.
He'd be a lot cheaper to acquire too given Derby's financial problems.
And Rooney's constant firefighting at Pride Park will make the Everton job seem a breeze.
But then not all managerial appointments make sense - they picked Rafa last time, remember?
