---
title: "Everton: Mike Parry calls for Wayne Rooney to be made Toffees manager"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-mike-parry-wayne-rooney-benitez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Everton"
published: "2021-12-13T12:45:00Z"
modified: "2021-12-13T12:45:00Z"
---

# Everton: Mike Parry calls for Wayne Rooney to be made Toffees manager

**Everton should sack Rafael Benitez and replace him with Wayne Rooney, according to ex-talkSPORT broadcaster and independent Toffees shareholder [Mike Parry](https://twitter.com/mikeparry8/status/1470107106745491466).**

### The lowdown

The  Merseysiders were beaten 3-1 by Crystal Palace on Sunday, their [eighth loss in 12 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/formtabelle/wettbewerb/GB1?saison_id=2021&min=5&max=17). Since beating Burnley 3-1 in mid-September, they have the [worst record](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/formtabelle/wettbewerb/GB1?saison_id=2021&min=5&max=17) of any team in the Premier League.

Reports have suggested that the Toffees are lining up potential successors, with Spanish outlet [Fichajes](https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/everton-cansa-rafa-benitez-piensa-sustituto-20211128.html) claiming in late November that Denmark boss Kasper Hjumland is on their radar.

Current Derby County manager Rooney made his Premier League breakthrough as a player at Everton and bagged [28 goals in 117 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wayne-rooney/leistungsdaten/spieler/3332) across two spells for the club either side of a 13-year stint at Manchester United.

The Rams appear destined for relegation to League One after being hit with a combined [21-point deduction](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/nov/16/derby-deducted-another-nine-points-for-breaches-of-efl-rules-over-pride-park-sale#:~:text=Derby%20County%20have%20been%20deducted,this%20season%20to%2021%20points.) due to financial problems. With nearly half of the season gone, they find themselves a full 17 points from safety.

### The latest

Parry [took to Twitter](https://twitter.com/mikeparry8/status/1470107106745491466) to address supporters after the defeat at Selhurst Park, writing: “I hate it where we are.”

“If I make a representation to the board that we should exit Rafa Benitez and APPOINT WAYNE ROONEY as our new manager with Dunc \[assistant Duncan Ferguson\] already in place, would you support me?”

### The verdict

Does Rooney have the credentials to take the reins at Goodison Park? He has been Derby’s permanent manager for [48 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wayne-rooney/stationen/trainer/86680/plus/1) now, winning only 13 (27%), drawing 14 and losing 21.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that he has been steering the club through stormy waters. They entered administration in September and there’s even a risk they might go out of business as they continue to search for a buyer (via [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59509255)).

Former QPR and Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry says it’s testament to Rooney’s [‘incredible character’](https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wayne-rooney-derby-county-administration-6046437) that he has stuck around at Pride Park despite the hugely challenging circumstances.

Elsewhere, former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has described the 36-year-old as a ‘[big gun](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/09/wayne-rooney-manager-derby-county)‘ who ‘has everything to become a big manager’, and Ben Olsen, his one-time coach at DC United, has noted that the ex-Toffees striker enjoys the ‘[chess](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/09/wayne-rooney-manager-derby-county)‘ aspect of the game.

Those are some pretty glowing endorsements, so perhaps there is credence to Parry’s recommendation of him to replace the [under-fire](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2021/12/05/matchday-benitez-under-pressure-as-everton-welcomes-arsenal/49483559/) Benitez.

**In other news, [many Everton fans slammed this man’s display against Palace](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/fabian-delph-crystal-palace-premier-league/)**