Wayne Rooney reaches agreement to become new DC United head coach
Wayne Rooney has agreed to become the next DC United head coach, 90min understands.
The 36-year-old has been looking for a new position since leaving Derby County in June and was thought to be under consideration by a number of English clubs.
But Rooney was spotted at Dulles International Airport on Sunday, with speculation quickly intensifying that he would become the new DC United boss, replacing interim Chad Ashton who took over following the dismissal of Hernan Losada in April.
90min sources have confirmed that Rooney has agreed terms with DC United. It's understood the club pushed hard over last week to make the deal happen, with the former Manchester United and Everton forward very quickly becoming their prime target.
Why is Wayne Rooney taking the DC United job?
Rooney has been searching for work since ending an 85-game spell with Derby, during which he won 24, games, drew 22, and lost 39. Despite battling bravely, he was unable to avoid relegation from the Championship last season with the Rams after they were deducted 21 points for entering administration and various other financial irregularities.
Major League Soccer might not immediately be the first league that springs to mind when a coach wants to enhance his reputation, but it has produced some top tacticians in the past.
Current Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch began his journey with CF Montreal (formerly Montreal Impact) and the New York Red Bulls, winning two Supporters' Shield titles with the latter before joining RB Salzburg in 2019.
And Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira also cut his teeth in MLS, guiding NYCFC to consecutive second-place finishes in the Eastern Conference and enjoying a 44.44% win rate between January 2016 and June 2018, before moving on to Nice.
Current Mexico national team manager Tata Martino was an MLS Cup-winner with Atlanta United in 2018, too.
But most important to consider is Rooney's affiliation with DC United, where he scored 25 goals in 52 appearances between June 2018 and October 2019. Back in MLS, Rooney will now look to use the league's unique salary restrictions and travel distances to improve his skills working on a tight transfer budget and managing squad rotation.
What job will Rooney inherit at DC United?
DC United's latest result prior to Rooney's arrival is a 7-0 defeat away to the Philadelphia Union that leaves them tied for last place in the Eastern Conference and overall standings.
That's just a taste of the situation Rooney walks into, with no team allowing more goals than the Black and Red's 37.
But DC do have two Designated Player (DP) spots open to strengthen their roster, with Taxi Fountas the only current DP on the club's books. The Greece international has nine goals in just 800 minutes of MLS action this season.
Rooney will be hoping to make a similar impact to when he joined DC United as a player in 2018, with his goals helping lift the club from the bottom of the East and into the MLS Cup Playoffs.