Rooney set for return to English club team?
Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United and England captain, who has been playing for DC United in Major League Soccer over the past year, is understood to be discussing the prospect of a player-coach role with a Championship club.
Derby County appointed Phillip Cocu, the former Barcelona player, as manager last month on a four-year contract following Frank Lampard’s departure for Chelsea.
And Mel Morris, the Derby owner, is now thought to be considering bringing another high-profile former England player in Rooney to the club to work and play under Cocu. Preliminary talks have taken place between Derby and Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, with further discussions planned.
Both parties are hopeful of a deal being struck.
Rooney, 33, is contracted to DC United until next year and it is unclear what that would mean for the MLS franchise if he did end up returning to English football with Derby.
It has been reported that Rooney’s wife, Coleen, has told friends she would like to return home to the North West from America. The couple have four sons: Kai, nine; Klay, six; Kit, three, and 17-month-old Cass.
DC United are fourth in the Eastern Conference, six points adrift of leaders Philadelphia Union. Rooney is the fifth top scorer in the Eastern Conference with 11 goals.
England’s all-time record scorer, with 53 goals in 120 appearances, and United’s record goalscorer with 253 goals in 559 matches, with whom he won five Premier League titles and the Champions League Cup, Rooney is one of the country’s most successful footballers.
He joined United from Everton in 2004 before returning to his boyhood club in 2017, spending another season at Goodison Park and then moving to Washington DC last year.
But Rooney – who is in the process of doing his coaching badges – has made no secret of his desire to try his hand at coaching and management.
In June, he revealed that he had received offers to manage in England and the United States.
‘‘I’m taking the steps to get my badges completed and when I finish playing I’ll see what opportunities come up,’’ Rooney said.