Wayne Rooney Leaves DC United Coaching Role
In a mutual decision, Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United and England striker, has bid farewell to his position as the head coach of DC United. The decision came after the Washington DC-based team was eliminated from MLS play-off contention on a fateful Saturday night.
In an official statement, Jason Levien, the chief executive of the club, expressed, “We have spoken with Wayne and agreed it is best for us to part ways at this time. We are grateful for all he has done for our club and for soccer in the nation’s capital, first as a DC United player and captain, and most recently as our coach. He remains an important part of the DC United family and a valued and cherished friend.”
Rooney assumed the coaching role in July of the previous year after spending 18 months as a player with the club before his departure for Derby County in January 2020.
During a press conference, Rooney stated that he believed it was “the right time” to move on. He expressed, “I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the play-offs. It’s not a single thing that’s happened. It’s about timing. I just feel like it’s the right time for me to go back to England, first to obviously see my family. I haven’t seen them for a long time. And then, what lies ahead? Whether opportunities come up? I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media. I don’t have anything lined up.”
Wayne Rooney, renowned for scoring 53 goals in 120 games for England and winning numerous prestigious titles with Manchester United, is now being linked with a potential move to Birmingham City. The West Midlands club, under American ownership, currently holds a position in the Championship play-offs under manager John Eustace. Nevertheless, Rooney is rumored to be a top candidate should Eustace decide to depart.