Wayne Rooney named as head coach of DC United

Wayne Rooney, one of the best players of his generation and a former striker for Major League Soccer (MLS) club, DC United, has been named the team’s new head coach.

Before going back to England to play for and subsequently coach second-tier club Derby County, Rooney spent two seasons at DCU in 2018 and 2019. The English forward now awaits the approval of his work visa to take over from interim manager, Chad Ashton.

Rooney will take over a struggling team at DCU that fired Hernán Losada as its head coach early in the season and failed to improve under Ashton. With a record of five wins, 10 losses and two draws, United are currently tied for the team with the fewest points in the league.

A statement by D.C. co-owners, Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, read: “Wayne is a soccer legend and one of the most exciting and dynamic up-and-coming managers in our sport. 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 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.”