DC United have confirmed the appointment of Wayne Rooney as their new manager, with the club explaining he has already shown his managerial qualities since hanging up his boots.
The former England international striker arrives shortly after confirming his departure from Derby County. Rooney spent two seasons as a player with the Major League Soccer side before hanging up his boots, and has now completed a return to the US.
Rooney left Derby after their relegation from the Championship at the end of last season. He was spotted boarding a plane to the States over the weekend and has now been confirmed in his new role.
Rooney is understood to have left his family behind to make the trip to the US capital. His wife Coleen had previously admitted to struggling to settle in the city, and a source told The Mirror that Wayne's affinity for DC wasn't shared by Coleen.
“Wayne enjoyed his time in Washington and he has a real affinity for the DC club," the source said. "The owners are desperate to stop the club’s fall in the table and they only had one man in mind who they think could do it.
“They know Wayne well and believe he could help fix many of the problems whether that is over a few months or a few seasons. But as much as he loved it out here, Coleen struggled to settle.”
“Wayne is a soccer legend and one of the most exciting and dynamic up-and-coming managers in our sport," DC United's co-chairmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan said, per a club release confirming the appointment. "He’s already proven in his young coaching career that he knows how to lead a group through adversity.
“He has an understanding of our league and what it takes to be successful in Major League Soccer thanks to his two-year stay with us as a player," the co-chairmen continued. "The passion he showed while wearing Black-and-Red electrified our city and our club and we are so excited to welcome him back as our Head Coach.”
“Wayne is a winner and a competitor. His work ethic and what he demands of himself and his players is second to none,” President of Soccer Operations Dave Kasper said. “Wayne’s approach to the game and the style of soccer he wants to play fits within our philosophy and we believe he is the right person to lead our club moving forward.”
Rooney, 36, joined DC United as a player in 2018 after a second stint at boyhood club Everton. He scored 25 goals in 52 appearances for the club before returning to England, first as a player for Derby and then as manager of the Rams.
“My time at the club has been a rollercoaster of emotions, both highs and lows, but I have to say that I have enjoyed the challenge," Rooney said upon leaving Derby in June. "Personally, I feel the club now needs to be led by someone with fresh energy and not affected by the events that have happened over the last eighteen months."
