Shay Given believes his former boss Wayne Rooney would be 'a good fit' for the vacant Everton manager role.
Before leaving last summer, Given worked with the Blues academy graduate at Derby County, where Rooney is currently excelling in his first permanent managerial role.
The troubled Rams lost narrowly to rivals Nottingham Forest on Saturday and are currently eight points from safety in the Championship relegation zone.
But Derby have actually won 35 points on the pitch this season, and would be sitting comfortably in mid-table had it not been for a hefty points deduction for entering administration.
Rooney has achieve all this despite inheriting a tiny squad of players and working under the ever-present threat of liquidation as the club's financial problems continue.
His performance in such testing circumstances has earned him wide praise in the footballing world, and now the 36-year-old is being linked with the vacant manager's post at Goodison Park.
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Rooney knows the club well from his two separate spells as an Everton player, and rumours of his candidacy have been far better received than those linking the club with a return for former boss Roberto Martinez.
And Given, who used to work with Rooney as first-team goalkeeping coach at Derby, has backed him to excel in the role if offered it.
"I think he'd be a good fit," the retired, former Newcastle United and Aston Villa shot-stopper said while appearing as a pundit on Premier Sports in Ireland.
"Wayne obviously was an Everton fan growing up and of course played for Everton. He's doing a great job at Derby even with the points deduction.
"t's a big job, whoever gets it. It's a big club, there's huge wealth behind it with the new owners, they've spent over £500million with not a lot to show for it.
"Whoever gets it has a big job."
Rooney is an all-time Premier League great for his performances on the pitch during his trophy-laden career, but was also known for never shying away from confrontation.
Given went on to ease worries about that happening now in the dugout, and claimed that England 's record goalscorer has mellowed with his age.
"People who don't know him probably think he's a hot head, he'd be shouting down referee's throats and shouting at his own players," he continued.
"He's actually quite calm as a manager. I thought he'd be ranting and raving, he's actually the opposite.
"Keeping your lid on it sometimes is harder than losing it. Sometimes when he did lose it was after we won a game."
