Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has praised Wayne Rooney’s strong quality as a manager amid strong links to the Everton job.

As Futaa reported over the past week, Everton sacked Rafa Benitez after a dismal run of one win in 13 Premier League matches.

Rooney is now tipped as one of the candidates to take over.

The former Everton star is currently managing Derby County in the Championship. His side are 23rd after getting deducted 21 points due to transfer and finance saga.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand has had a close experience with Rooney the manager.

“He is such a different person behind closed doors,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

“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 Man 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.

“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.

Ferdinand concluded by saying whether Rooney should take the Everton job given the opportunity.

“You take the job in a heartbeat (if you’re Rooney),” Ferdinand 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,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand and Rooney are likely to watch Man United take on Brentford in a Premier League game on Wednesday night.

Follow Brentford vs Man United live on Futaa!