Wayne Rooney has left his position as coach of DC United after the team was eliminated from the Major League Soccer qualifiers on Saturday.
D.C. defeated New York City FC 2-0 at home in their final game of the regular season but results elsewhere meant they could no longer finish in the top nine in the Eastern Conference to qualify for the post-season.
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Immediately after the match, the team said they had mutually agreed to part ways with Rooney.
“We have spoken with Wayne and agreed that it is best for us to part ways at this time,” said Jason Levine, CEO and co-president of DC United. He said in a press release.
“This decision creates the path for our next general manager to have the full opportunity to impart a new philosophy and structure to our athletic operations, which begins with critically identifying the head coach who will best align with this.
“We are grateful to Wayne Rooney for everything he has done for our club and football in the nation’s capital, first as a D.C. United player and captain and more recently as our coach. He remains an important part of the D.C. United family and a great club.” A respected and dear friend.”
Rooney added in a press conference after the match: “I feel that this is the right time for me to return to England. What awaits me I do not know.”
Rooney, who previously spent 18 months as a player with DC, returned to the club as head coach in July 2022 but was unable to prevent the team from finishing last in the East. Although he led DC to an improved 10-10-14 record in 2023, the team would once again miss the playoffs.
Rooney is considered a legend as a player, and is the all-time top scorer for Manchester United, and at that time he scored 53 goals with the England national team. Before arriving in the capital, he coached Derby County in England’s second-tier Championship.
