WASHINGTON: Former English national football team captain Wayne Rooney has become a new head coach of the DC United team based in Washington, where he spent two seasons as a player, Sputnik quoted the club as saying in a statement.
“DC United announced today that Wayne Rooney has been named as the club’s new Head Coach,” the statement said on Tuesday.
Rooney was a captain of the DC United team during the 2018 and 2019 football seasons.
Rooney needs a requisite visa to be able to work in the United States and until he receives it, interim coach Chad Ashton will remain in charge of the DC United team.
DC United Co-Chairmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan called Rooney a football legend who has an understanding of the US Major League Soccer.
“The passion he showed while wearing Black-and-Red electrified our city and our club and we are so excited to welcome him back as our Head Coach,” they said.
Rooney made his professional debut in Everton FC in England in 2002 at the age of 16. He was selected to play for the English national team a year later. Rooney has won 16 trophies during his career as a football player.