Leighton Baines an outsider for Rotherham job as Everton hero eyes career-first managerial role

Everton legend Leighton Baines has been named in the running for the vacant Rotherham United job after Matt Hamshaw was sacked on Wednesday.

The Millers are 22nd in League One, with nine games left to overturn a six-point gap to safety and avoid the drop.

Under Hamshaw, Rotherham had failed to win any of their last four games, and had won just one of their last nine league games.

Baines has remained with the Toffees since his 2020 retirement, initially working with the academy before eventually working as part of David Moyes' staff.

The former left-back has been mentioned in conversations surrounding Everton's next manager in the future, but he will likely need to gain experience elsewhere first.

Leighton Baines in Rotherham contention

Baines was linked with Barrow in December, but the League Two club eventually opted to hire interim boss Paul Gallagher.

As a player, the defender enjoyed a long and fruitful career, and there is hope that he can replicate that in his managerial exploits.

Baines was capped 30 times by England and made more than 400 appearances for the Toffees over the course of 13 years.

He is a firm favourite at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and there is a belief that he will be the man in the dugout at some stage.

The 41-year-old already has had a taste of it, guiding Everton to a 2-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup in 2025 after Sean Dyche was sacked.

But that is where his experience of first-team management ends, with at least another role likely required before such an appointment could be made.

Rotherham could be the right move for Baines, with one major bookmaker placing him at 20/1 to be named the next manager.

Darren Ferguson is the favourite at 2/1, while Richard Wood (4/1) and Darren Moore (6/1) are also among the main contenders.

Harrison Armstrong's comments on Baines suggest promise

Several young players have mentioned Baines' ability to nurture talent, with youngster Harrison Armstrong the latest.

The midfielder spent the first half of the season on loan at Preston North End but was brought back in January amid a string of impressive performances.

He told Everton's website earlier this month that Baines has been a key part of his development.

"Leighton [Baines] was important for me as well – first as an Under-18s coach, now I'm working with him in the first team – but it was strange working with him at first because I used to watch him every week," he said.