Wayne Rooney is returning to D.C. United and this time as the club’s new head coach.
Sources confirmed with WTOP that Rooney has agreed to terms to take up the vacant coaching role. He arrived at Dulles International Airport Sunday evening.
BREAKING: Multiple outlets are reporting Wayne Rooney is returning to become the new manager for @dcunited. Below is @SoccerInsider showing Rooney arriving at Dulles Airport.
He played two and half seasons in DC in 2018-2020, scoring 25 goals in all competitions. https://t.co/nR7oDemfEO— José Mauricio Umaña (@Jose_M_Umana) July 11, 2022
The Daily Mail first reported United’s interest in bringing the former English striker on Friday.
As a player, Rooney energized United on and off the field when he arrived in mid-2018. In 48 matches with D.C., Rooney scored 23 goals and led the club to two playoff appearances.
After the 2019 season, Rooney returned to England to play for Derby County in the English second division. He eventually became the team’s manager, but Derby County, saddled by financial problems, was relegated to England’s League One in the third division.
United fired former head coach Hernan Losada just six matches into this season and the Black and Red have compiled a record of 3-6-3 under interim head coach Chad Ashton.
D.C. United is coming off a 7-0 loss on the road against Philadelphia on Friday and plays Columbus at home Wednesday. It is not clear when Rooney will take over as United’s head coach but more details are expected later in the week.
WTOP’s José Umaña contributed to this report.
