Wayne Rooney brings empathy and progress as DC United head coach

O f all the intimate details that surfaced during the Wagatha Christie trial, DC United fans most likely took note of one point in particular. According to text messages read out in court, Coleen Rooney never much liked Washington DC, which she called “a nice place to visit, but different to live.” Her husband, however, appears to have a much stronger connection to the city and its club.

After two seasons with the club as a player, Wayne Rooney is DC United’s head coach. The former England captain was linked with several jobs – most notably at his boyhood club, Everton – after getting his managerial start at Derby County. A return to Major League Soccer, however, appealed most of all despite DC United sitting second-bottom of the Eastern Conference when he arrived last season – they’d also suffered their worst-ever MLS loss just days before Rooney was appointed.

DC United still finished bottom of the East in 2022, raising doubts over Rooney’s suitability for the job, but this season has been more encouraging. Fifteen games into the season, the club occupy a wildcard playoff place. The rebuild of DC United’s squad is going well and Rooney’s team are playing some good stuff too.

Rooney has carried over much of what worked for him at Derby County where a perilous financial situation forced him to use youth, mostly because almost every other player had been sold to ease bankruptcy concerns. In challenging circumstances, though, Rooney built a vibrant, energetic team who fought for a fanbase that felt the world had turned against them. Youth has been an important part of what Rooney has built in MLS too.

“There’s no point in having an academy if you’re not going to use it,” said Rooney. Teenagers Kristian Fletcher and Matai