Former England international Wayne Rooney is set to make a spectacular return to the United States and to the D.C. United organization. But instead of running on the pitch of Audi Field, he’ll be standing on its sidelines.
According to multiple reports, Rooney accepted to take over as the new manager of D.C. United on Sunday. He will succeed Hernan Losada, who left in April, and will be tasked with moving the club from the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Longtime assistant Chad Ashton served as United’s boss on an interim basis for the previous two and a half months.
Rooney and D.C. United are left to take care of some minor details, but the majority of the agreement is reportedly in place. The 36-year-old player will officially take over the MLS side once his work visa is approved.
Wayne Rooney previously spent two seasons as D.C. United player in 2018 and 2019. He was largely successful during that time, scoring 25 goals and adding 14 assists. Rooney also made the MLS Best XI team and received All-Star honors while with the club.
Rooney left D.C. United for Championship side Derby County, where he got a chance to serve as a player/coach. During the 2020–21 season, Rooney was promoted to Derby’s manager and succeeded in saving the club from relegation. However, he failed to do the same in 2021-22 as the club was handed several points-deduction penalties due to financial irregularities. Rooney then decided to leave the club earlier this month.
