Everton manager Frank Lampard may have to worry about being succeeded by Wayne Rooney for a second time, if comments from the former Toffees striker are anything to go by.
Rooney took over as Derby County manager in 2020, just over a year after his former England teammate Lampard left the post to step into the dugout at Chelsea. However, the 36-year-old confirmed this week that he would be leaving the Rams with immediate effect after a difficult few months on and off the pitch.
Derby are yet to identify a new boss, with another former England international - John Terry - among those linked with the job. Rooney, meanwhile, has previously made comments about his old club which might be enough for Lampard to take notice.
Rooney has been linked with the Everton job in the past, including after Rafael Benitez's dismissal midway through last season. Despite remaining at Pride Park until this summer, though, his fondness for his boyhood club remains.
"I could see once Benitez was sacked and my name was getting linked with Everton that the staff were down and they were scared that if I left, where did that leave the club," he said in The Mail on Sunday at the time. "I know they have been looking to me to try and help rebuild this club.
"I spoke to the staff and said: "I am stood in front of you and I am with you. Whatever is being said out there, I am with you. I think that was big for them."
Is Rooney ready for the Everton job? Have your say in the comments section
There were also links before Benitez's dismissal, when the former Liverpool and Newcastle United boss found himself under pressure. Even then, though, Rooney's comments pointed to respect for his former club and also for the side who he was managing at the time.
"I obviously came up through Everton 's Academy, Everton fan, but I see the reports and I have had no communication with Everton Football Club," he said in December. As far as I am aware they have got a manager in place, so for me to discuss anything like that, it's not my place to do that.
"As I have said I am committed to [Derby]. I've had no conversations with Everton Football Club regarding the manager's job so it's not even something I'm thinking about."
More recently, though, England's record goalscorer has been very clear in explaining his longer-term plans. He was asked about potentially taking the Everton or Man Utd job during an April appearance on Monday Night Football, and his response was perhaps unsurprising.
"I'm an Everton fan, I was at Man Utd for 13 years," Rooney said, as reported by The Mail. "I feel if I keep doing what I'm doing, keep learning, keep improving, those two clubs one day in the future I'd love to go and manage.
"You've got to trust in yourself and believe in yourself. Of course there will be temptation there.
"There might be offers that come in and you think, 'I'm going to go for that'. But you need to be in the right place and I believe I'm in the right place. I'm developing as a manager, developing as a coach and I'm learning."
He has previously spoken about not feeling ready for one of those bigger jobs, but now things may have changed. Rooney would be free to speak to potential new clubs after leaving Derby, and the pressure may well be on Lampard after the current boss only kept Everton up by the skin of their teeth last season.
Lampard took over at the end of January with Everton sitting 16th in the table and in danger of dropping into the Championship. A tough run of results saw them briefly drop into the bottom three, but Lampard led his team to 10 points from their final six games to clinch survival.
Everton have already begun their preparations for next season, with a handful of high earners leaving upon the expiry of their contracts. However, if Lampard makes a slow start, links with Rooney may end up resurfacing - especially if he bides his time before then.
