Wayne Rooney has revealed he went into management to one day take to the dugout at Manchester United.
The 36-year-old is one of the club’s greatest players after becoming their leading scorer of all time with 253 goals in 13 trophy-laden seasons.
Rooney is also a fan favourite at Everton, coming through the club’s academy and returning for a season towards the end of his playing career.
Wayne Rooney’s sole goal of going into management was to take the job at Manchester United
The Derby manager though snubbed the chance to have an interview with Everton to replace Rafael Benitez when the former Liverpool manager was sacked.
As reported by the Sun, Rooney has now admitted: ‘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.’
Rooney, now at Derby, became one of Manchester United’s greatest ever players during his playing career
Rooney’s comments come despite his emotional ties with the Toffees, who he made his playing debut as a 16-year-old in 2002.
He is currently in charge of crisis-torn Championship club Derby and attracted interest from Everton after they sacked Benitez.
The former England captain though revealed in January that he chose not to pursue the opportunity, with the Toffees instead going for Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
‘They approached my agent and asked me to interview for the job which I turned down,’ he said. ‘I believe I will be a Premier League manager and that I’m ready for that, and if that’s with Everton in future that would be great.
‘It was a very difficult decision but I’ve got a job here at Derby which is important to me.’
Though Rooney said it would be ‘great’ to be Everton manager, his comments that he got into management to become Manchester United might frustrate some of their fans.
Rooney snubbed the opportunity to be interviewed by Everton as a replacement for Rafa Benitez
He said it would be ‘great’ to manage Everton but his new comments suggest his main aim is to return to Old Trafford
Rooney burst onto the scene at Everton before joining United in 2004 for £27million.
At Old Trafford, he won five Premier League titles, the Champions League in 2008, among a host of other trophies.
He scored 11 goals in 40 appearances for Everton after returning in 2017, before later having spells with D.C. United and Derby.
Rooney was named permanent manager at Derby in January 2020. He kept the club in the Championship on the final day of last season but they entered administration last September and have been docked a total of 21 points.
Derby sit bottom of the table on 25 points – eight points from safety with just seven games remaining.
Rooney last week entered the Premier League Hall of Fame, along with Patrick Vieira, joining six other legends who were inducted last week.
