{"id":1100329,"date":"2019-08-06T14:39:03","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T13:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1100329"},"modified":"2019-08-06T14:46:52","modified_gmt":"2019-08-06T13:46:52","slug":"wayne-rooney-derby-county-dc-united-mls","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/wayne-rooney-derby-county-dc-united-mls\/","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Rooney to leave DC United for Derby at the end of MLS season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wayne Rooney will leave DC United to join Derby County as a player-coach in January 2020. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The 33-year-old has been plying his trade in MLS since 2018 since leaving Everton to join DC United and has scored 25 goals in 46 games for the club so far.<\/p>\n

Rooney to start coaching career: Five key things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  • Rooney has scored 359 goals for club and country, winning 11 major honours.<\/li>\n
  • He left Everton to join MLS side DC United in 2018.<\/li>\n
  • It is now confirmed he will join Derby County as a player-coach in January 2020.<\/li>\n
  • The 2019 MLS season ends in November with DC competing for a play-off spot.<\/li>\n
  • Rooney will join Derby an initial 18-month contract with the option for another year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7330203-it-s-easy-to-get-backwards-but-liverpool-s-dependence-on-their-front-three-isn-t-a-weakness<\/p>\n

    The MLS regular season ends in October but DC United are almost certain to make the play-offs. Should they go all the way to MLS Cup, Rooney’s season will end on November 10, with Derby happy to let the forward remain stateside until his commitments there are concluded.<\/p>\n

    His initial arrival at Pride Park with be on an 18-month contract with the option for an extra year after that.<\/p>\n

    DC United co-chairmen Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien confirmed Rooney’s decision was largely motivated by a desire to move back closer to his family.<\/p>\n

    “After speaking to Wayne and understanding his difficult situation of being so far away from his family, we have accepted that this is the best decision for all parties,” they said. “Our main focus now is the 2019 MLS Season and ensuring we make a push towards the playoffs with the ultimate goal of bringing an MLS Cup back to the District. Wayne is an exceptional leader and one of the most iconic players to play the game so we look forward to his continued contributions to the team this season.”<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    READ MORE:<\/strong><\/span> Atlanta United reveal their true colours while Alejandro Bedoya sends powerful message: MLS Week 22<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

    Rooney himself insisted he remains focused on delivering silverware at Audi Field, telling DC United’s 0fficial website<\/a>: \u201cI remain fully focused on giving my all for the team for the rest of this season and repaying the support shown by the Black-and-Red faithful by hopefully delivering an MLS Cup to Audi Field”<\/p>\n

    The Man Utd legend also expressed his excitement at working with Derby manager Phillip Cocu, as he takes his first steps into coaching.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI am very excited about the opportunity that Derby County have provided me with,” he told the Rams’ official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n