Few will be surprised David Moyes turned to Wayne Rooney, but the former Blues boss also spoke with fondness about Leon Osman
Sport
Comment
Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman and Leighton Baines of England share a joke as the England squad travel to London on February 5, 2013
David Moyes turned to two Everton players when asked about the greatest he had coached. The former Blues boss provided no surprises as he singled out Wayne Rooney as “the standout player” he has overseen during his long managerial career.
But he also gave a special nod to another talismanic Everton star - Leon Osman - as he considered which players gave him the most pride to have worked with.
Moyes, who brought Rooney into the first team at the age of just 16, said of the player who went on to become England’s top goalscorer before being overtaken by Harry Kane: “I think when I look back over the years to have someone at such an early age being so talented, known worldwide throughout his career, breaking Manchester United records for goalscoring, breaking the England record for goalscoring.
READ MORE: Former Roma CEO linked with Everton role set for Premier League move after Friedkin decisionREAD MORE: Wayne Rooney response after Everton postponement left legend fuming
"I think that Wayne would probably be the standout player.”
Moyes continued with references to Nemanja Vidic, who he managed at Manchester United and Declan Rice, who he coached at West Ham United, before naming Osman as a fourth player that came into his thought process.
He told BBC Sport:: “Leon Osman, who was a really really good player for us and went on to get an England cap later in his career when he was over 30. Sometimes those things give managers bigger thrills than some of the other boys.”