Wayne Rooney, who left Derby County in June following the Rams’ relegation to League One, has crossed the Atlantic to become the next manager of Major League Soccer side DC United, The Athletic claims.
The former Manchester United striker, who represented DC as a player between 2018 and 2019, will take the reins from interim manager Chad Ashton. The American has been in his place since the club decided to part ways with Hernan Losada earlier this year. He was initially installed in place of Losada to help the team until the end of the current MLS season.
DC United will be Rooney’s second managerial job in his burgeoning career on the sidelines. The ex-Red Devil only recently stepped down from a similar role at crisis Derby, following their relegation to the English third tier.
Rooney took charge of 85 games for the Rams, maintaining an unremarkable win percentage of 28.2. However, the former England international helped guide the side away from relegation in his first season as a manager and was almost successful in his second, but for a myriad of off-field issues and penalties that left the team in a handicapped position.
Despite Derby’s relegation, Rooney has earned praise for much of his young managerial career. He was, reportedly, in the mix of names for potential candidates when jobs at Celtic and Everton opened up in the past year – but stayed put to see out the season with Derby.
DC United presently find themselves second from the bottom in the MLS’s Eastern Conference Table – and 26th out of 28 overall. Ashton’s side has earned 17 points in 17 games, losing ten games, winning five, and drawing the other two, while also holding the title for the worst defensive record in the league (37 conceded).
Their last game ended in a 7-0 loss to Philadelphia United, leaving them at the risk of missing out on the playoffs for the third year in a row.
