Wayne Rooney has hinted that he's happy to bide his time before ahead of a potential return to Manchester United after drawing on Frank Lampard's brutal experience at Chelsea.
Rooney is United's all-time leading goalscorer after plundering 253 goals in 559 games for the club, but has impressed after transitioning into management with Derby County. The Rams are in administration and fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Championship after being deducted 21 points over the course of the season - but are still in with a fighting chance of survival thanks to Rooney.
The 36-year-old has been linked with a number of roles due to his impressive work in the EFL, and he revealed earlier this year that he turned down an opportunity to interview for the Everton job. Lampard was eventually appointed by the Toffees, who are also scrapping for survival at the foot of the Premier League.
Rooney recently admitted that he'd "love" to manage United in the future. However, he's happy to play the waiting game over any return - and pointed to Lampard's experiences at Chelsea as an example of why he's in no rush to quit Derby.
Lampard also cut his teeth in management with the Rams before he was prised away by Chelsea back in the summer of 2019. But the Stamford Bridge legend was given the boot by the Blues after just 18 months at the helm.
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While discussing his future aspirations in management on Monday Night Football, Rooney told Sky Sports: "There are two clubs: Everton and Manchester United. I'm an Everton fan, I was at Man Utd for 13 years. 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.
"I understand when Frank Lampard went to Chelsea, it's so difficult to say no. But when you go into one of these big clubs you need to make sure it's the right time and you're able to develop and take that club forward. I got approached by Everton to interview for the manager's job but I'm in a job, I'm still learning and I felt it wasn't the right time."
