Rio Ferdinand has opened up on Wayne Rooney’s character after knowing him for so many years with Manchester United and England.
Together, the pair won nearly everything there is - including five Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League.
Between them they have over 1,000 appearances for the Red Devils after sharing a dressing room for 10 years - leading from the back and the front.
It would be fair to say that Ferdinand knows a thing or two about Rooney, his character and his temperament.
In his early days at United, the bullish striker was renowned for his aggression that sometimes got him into trouble.
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But he also channeled that ferocity in front of goal which made him the top talent that Sir Alex Ferguson loved while he ended his career as both top goalscorer for England and United.
Now a manager, it might be easy to think that Rooney has transferred his combative style of play to the dugout - but that is not the case.
In fact, Ferdinand has revealed his old United teammate is a bit of a data nerd as well as a great speaker.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, the former defender said: “It is such a different person behind closed doors.
“Yes they are a young squad, he has given out a hell of a lot of debuts but their reactions, they are transfixed. He spoke with such authority and a calmness, didn't waste a word.
“A lot of things he was saying was about trust - ‘I trust you, I believe in all of you’ - and you can see why they have that fight for him and that togetherness. He is instilling it with his staff.
“I saw a different Wayne Rooney to the one I grew up with and saw grow up at United, it was a real positive experience. It was the confidence and I didn't expect it from such a young coach.
“I thought there'd be a lot of ‘ermmmm’ - you see the interviews, no disrespect - but he was just calm man, I was so impressed. The results he is getting off the back of it, I'm not surprised."
Derby got off the bottom of the Championship table at the weekend despite being hit with a points deduction at the start of the campaign and being forced to let some of their key players leave, with Rooney now leading the great escape battle against the drop.
Ferdinand continued: “Wazza is good at detail, his game was about detail. People would think it was hustle and bustle and bang, a shot out of nowhere but to be the player he was you had to understand details and it is about translating that into the team.
“He was taking people off to the side saying ‘I want this, I want that’ and it was really good. I'm not saying he is the next Sir Alex or the next Pep but he is on the right track.”
There has been speculation that Rooney could be offered the Everton job after Rafa Benitez was sacked last week.
Roberto Martinez was the top target but the Belgian FA are not willing to allow their coach to leave just before the World Cup while Ferdinand believes there is only one choice.
“You take the job in a heartbeat (if you're Rooney),” he said. “If he could have it his way, I'm sure he'd say ‘listen, keep Big Dunc as the interim, let me keep Derby up and I'll be there in the summer’ but that's hugely unlikely.
“(Roberto) Martinez has got to relinquish going to the World Cup (with Belgium). You can see Rooney - boyhood club and Big Dunc is his mate, his idol growing up, knows the fabric of the club.”
