Wayne Rooney has been appointed head coach of Major League Soccer team DC United. It is Rooney’s second job in management after leaving Derby last month – guiding the club through administration and relegation to League One. The England and Manchester United goalscorer, 36, spent 18 months at DC United and captained the side. DC United said Rooney is “one of the most exciting and dynamic up-and-coming managers in our sport”. Co-chairmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan added in a statement: “He has already proven in his young coaching career that he knows how to lead a team through adversity. “He understands our league and what it takes to be successful in Major League Soccer thanks to his two years with us as a player. “The passion he showed wearing the Black and Red electrified our city and club and we are so excited to welcome him back as our manager.” DC United have been without a manager since April, are second bottom in the Eastern Conference and were beaten 7-0 by the Philadelphia Union on Friday. Interim manager Chad Ashton will remain in charge of the team until Rooney receives his work visa. Rooney spent 18 months in Washington before joining Derby as player-coach in January 2020, scoring 23 goals in 48 MLS games. He was placed as interim team manager in November of that year with the latter Championship side after they parted company with Phillip Cocu. Rooney was confirmed in the post on a two-and-a-half-year contract three months later, a decision that prompted him to confirm his retirement as a player. Derby went into administration in September 2021 and were relegated from the Championship last season with 21 points all season. The former Everton forward, who made his professional debut for the Toffees in August 2002 aged just 16, left Derby on June 24. “Wayne is a winner and a competitor. His work ethic and what he demands of himself and his players is second to none,” said Dave Kasper, DC United president of soccer operations. “Wayne’s approach to the game and the style of football he wants to play fits our philosophy and we believe he is the right person to lead our team forward.”
