Wayne Rooney plots new American revolution as DC United finish bottom in horror MLS season

Just three months into his second managerial job and Wayne Rooney did not mince his words as DC United’s MLS campaign reached its miserable conclusion.

The American club’s final match was befitting of the season as a whole as Rooney’s side were thrashed 5-2 at home by FC Cincinnati.

The Black-and-Reds finished bottom of the 14-team Eastern Conference, a distant seven points behind Toronto in 13th place, missing out on a play-off spot for a third season in a row.

“Thank God the season’s over,” said former England captain Rooney, who was DC’s third coach of a disastrous season after Hernan Losada and interim manager Chad Ashton. “I think it’s a relief for all of us.

“The goals we conceded – incredible, really. Not just at the professional level – at any level.”

It was a sentiment echoed by captain Steven Birnbaum after their latest capitulation at Audi Field on Sunday. “We need a restart,” said Birnbaum. “It wasn’t good enough today. It hasn’t been good enough all year. Pretty much par for the course.”

There were eyebrows raised back in Rooney’s home country when he was appointed manager at the American club he served with distinction as a player.

Rooney played 52 games for DC United scoring 25 goals in 2018-19, captaining the team to the play-offs two seasons in a row.

Manchester United and England’s record goalscorer had just finished a manic stint as manager of Derby County that ended with the club being relegated to the league's third tier.

Wayne Rooney's spell as Derby County manager ended with the English club being relegated to the third tier after being deducted 21 points. Getty

But Rooney emerged from that spell with his coaching reputation strengthened rather than tarnished. Derby had been a club in turmoil for