Wayne Rooney is among the most respected soccer players for his achievements at the highest level with Manchester United. The former England captain currently holds the record for the most goals scored by a United player, a record previously held by Sir Bobby Charlton for over two decades.
But beyond Rooney’s achievements with English teams, he also had a brief spell in the MLS with DC United as a player and also a coach. Sadly, he couldn’t inspire his team to reach the MLS playoffs, prompting his decision to terminate his contract with the MLS franchise as he now all set for a return to England.
Wayne Rooney set to manage Birmingham City
Wayne Rooney, who managed the MLS All-Star in the pre-season loss to Arsenal, announced his departure from DC United on Saturday in the wake of the team’s 2-0 win over New York City. Despite the win, Rooney failed to inspire the club to MLS playoffs, a major disappointment for the Englishman, who had joined the club last July.
“It’s the right time. I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the playoffs. It’s a single thing that’s happened. It’s about timing,” Wayne Rooney told reporters after the match against New York City.
“What lies ahead, I don’t know,” he continued. “I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media. I’m going back with nothing lined up. I want to say on record to everyone involved in the club – staff, players; I’m grateful,” he concluded.
A few days after leaving his post at DC United, Wayne Rooney has been linked with a possible return to England to manage Birmingham City. The Championship club, recently bought by Tom Brady, sacked manager John Eustace on Monday, further fueling speculation that the former Manchester United star will be the new manager at St Andrew’s. According to The Guardian, Garry Cook, the club’s CEO, is the driving force behind the club’s effort to bring Wayne Rooney to the club.
Rooney’s managerial resume on English soil
The Birmingham City job is set to be Roney’s second managerial role in England following his spell at Derby County in 2020, a position he assumed until 2022 when the club was relegated from the Championship following the 21-point deduction.
Wayne Rooney took charge of 85 games at Derby County, winning 24 of them, leaving his win percentage at 27.5%. With more experience in the United States, Rooney could turn himself into a Premier League-level manager if he impresses at Birmingham City and help the club gain promotion to the top flight of English football.
Will Wayne Rooney succeed at Birmingham City?
