Rooney to return home as Derby player-coach in Jan 2020

LONDON Aug 6, (RTRS): Wayne Rooney will join Derby County in January from MLS side D.C. United, with the former England captain set to continue his playing career while working towards his goal of becoming a manager, the Championship club said on Tuesday.

In a major coup for the second-tier club, Derby said the 33-year-old Rooney had signed an initial 18-month contract with the option of another year and would also work as a coach with the first team and academy.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity that Derby County have provided me with,” former Manchester United and Everton striker Rooney said in a statement on Derby’s website.

“I’m looking forward to joining (manager) Phillip Cocu, his coaching staff and the first-team from the start of January. I’m sure I can make a big contribution... I’m equally excited to begin my coaching career.”

Rooney, who had two years left on his contract at D.C. United, said he was fully focused on giving his all for the club in the remainder of the season and hoped to deliver an MLS Cup.

“My time in MLS is something I’ll always be proud of... while the decision to move home was a tough one, family is everything to us and we make this change to be closer to the ones we love back in England,” he said.

Rooney, both England and Manchester United’s leading all-time goalscorer, becomes the latest member of the so-called “Golden Generation” of national squad players to take their first steps towards management. He will be following in the footsteps of the likes of Derby’s former boss Frank Lampard and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.

Lampard has since taken over at his old club Chelsea, having guided Derby to the playoff final last season.

“First and foremost, Wayne is joining us as a player but he will also have coaching responsibilities too,” Derby owner Mel Morris added.

“The commercial opportunities this creates are widespread and significant. On the back of Wayne joining the club, we have been offered a record-breaking sponsorship deal with our principal shirt sponsor, 32Red.”

Morris said earlier that Rooney’s discussions with Cocu had convinced him to make the switch.

Rooney was an admirer of Louis van Gaal’s coaching methods at Manchester United and believes Cocu can provide a similar learning experience.

“I’m looking forward to working with Wayne... it’s an exciting prospect for him to be joining Derby and he can bring so much to this squad, both on and off the pitch,” Cocu said.

“His credentials speak for themselves. But to have a player with his leadership, skill, experience, character and work ethic will be huge for us.”

That will please the likes of Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount, who will see the involuntary closing of the Abramovich chequebook as an opportunity.

Lampard has even vowed to regularly watch reserve and academy football, something many of his predecessors appeared less interested in. That suggests he knows this season’s restrictions can be used to his advantage.

Providing he avoids a poor start and demonstrates progress, Lampard might even be given the opportunity to see out his three-year contract, which would make him the club’s longest serving manager since Claudio Ranieri.

“I think expectations at Chelsea will always remain from the outside because of what the club’s done in the last 15 years in the Roman Abramovich era,” Lampard told Chelsea TV.

“And I like that, I enjoyed that as a player. I enjoyed the pressure of expectation...

“But the standards have to keep rising year after year. And that’s not just on the pitch, that’s daily, that’s players, staff, everybody at the training ground, everybody around the place.

“And I’ll try and push that. I think that when you are in charge, you have to push it.” His start could not be tougher, with a trip to Manchester United, a UEFA Super Cup final against Liverpool and a home game with resurgent Leicester City sandwiched into eight days.

When he draws breath after such a hectic opening week, he should be clear on the scale of his challenge. mier League side last season.

“They have paid massive money to retain this group and Klopp must be relishing the chance to discover what he can do with a squad so cohesive,” former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler said.

“Maybe he knows – just like with (defender Virgil) Van Dijk and (goalkeeper) Alisson – he needs one particular player, and that player isn’t available. So wait, rather than spend for the sake of it.” Long-term injury absentees Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez and Adam Lallana are all back, bolstering Klopp’s options.

Liverpool have been busy in the close season, incorporating a tour of the United States with friendlies in Scotland and Switzerland, with mixed success.

While Manchester City finished their schedule of friendlies unbeaten in normal time, Liverpool slipped to three defeats – against Napoli, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.

While the matches are more about fitness than results, Liverpool’s performances will have caused Klopp some concern, although key players Alisson, Firmino and Salah were missing after being given a break following international duty.

The challenge this season is likely to remain the same, overcoming a City side who have strengthened in midfield with the club-record signing of Rodri for 70 million euros ($79 million).

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have added some big-money signings but a sustained title tilt may still be beyond them.

But while City will have one eye on the Champions League – where they have yet to get past the semifinals – Liverpool will have other priorities after conquering Europe again last season, with that elusive Premier League title in their sights.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (left), challenges for the ball with Manchester City’s David Silva during the English Community Shield soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Wembley stadium in London on Aug 4. (AP)