Football News: England legend Wayne Rooney returns to MLS as D.C. United manager

Wayne Rooney has been named D.C. United's manager, the Major League Soccer team revealed on Tuesday.

Rooney, 36, left his position as manager of Derby County last month after finishing last season with the club in the Championship; Derby received a 21-point deduction after going into administration.

During a two-year stint from 2018 to 20 for D.C., the former Manchester United striker played 52 games while tallying 25 goals.

In June 2018, Rooney moved to D.C. after a stint at Everton, and when he played three games for the team, he had the honour of being named captain.

In his debut season, Rooney's tackle and assist against Orlando City symbolized the team's comeback to relevance.

Wayne Rooney's take on those criticizing the move

After the move was announced, Rooney addressed those criticizing his action and said this was just the beginning of his managerial journey.

"I've seen I've seen a few articles certainly back in England, on this as possibly a backward step in my managerial career," Rooney told media persons.

"I really found that disrespectful to this league. And I feel the experience again at Derby County of the past 18 months has been great in my development as a coach, as a manager, and to really come here back to the MLS, back to D.C. United was a exciting challenge for me, something of which I feel can develop me as a coach, but also, the team needs to improve."

"As a player, playing at the top level, you could really choose which club you want to go to," Rooney continued. "As a manager, I'm at the beginning of that journey — I have to put the work, the hours in…One day, I want to manage at the top level. And this is part of that process."

Wayne Rooney has a big task in hand as a manager

Hernan Losada, who was fired in April, is replaced by Rooney. Since then, Chad Ashton has served as the club's temporary manager.

D.C. United, who shares the lowest point total in the MLS with Chicago Fire, just suffered the worst loss in club and league history when they were humiliated 7-0 by the Philadelphia Union.

They have recently lost many important players to injury, including first-choice goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who underwent hand surgery and won't be ready to play until late in the season, and defender Brad Smith, formerly of Liverpool and Bournemouth, who will miss the final three months of the season with a torn ACL.

Rooney will succeed interim coach Chad Ashton, who has guided the team through this trying time.

Hernan Losada was fired in April after claiming that he had lost the dressing room and was pushing players too hard regarding fitness and lifestyle expectations. Ashton, who had worked as Losada's assistant at D.C. United for the previous 15 years, took over as manager.

They rarely rank among the teams with the most significant budgets in the league. Rooney has always been well conscious that this has been the case for a while.

He encouraged the team to spend more on players, facilities, and the like. At the same time, he was a player in D.C. MLS is a league that is becoming increasingly populated by wealthy owners who can push the boundaries of the league's complex salary cap system.

The proprietors of Swansea City and D.C. United do not have the same financial capabilities as some other owners.

Rooney must be sure he can succeed in the conditions he's being offered to accept this job. Whether or not he is confident, he still has a lot of work to do.

It is unclear how much money D.C. United, who are tied for last place in the Eastern Conference standings but don't have to worry about being demoted because there is no relegation in Major League Soccer, would spend on talent under Rooney.

But how does Rooney fare as a manager?

Rooney was hired as an interim coaching team member after the club fired Phillip Cocu following a difficult start to the 2020–21 campaign and Derby at the bottom of the standings.

In January 2021, he was finally named permanent manager, and that season, he helped the team narrowly avoid being demoted.

After declaring he would only stay with the club if new owners could be found to address the team's financial plight, Rooney resigned from his position in June.

Rooney scored 253 goals for Manchester United during his playing career and helped the team win five Premier League championships and the Champions League. With 53 goals, he holds the scoring record for England's national team.