Wayne Rooney, former English superstar and head coach of D.C. United, will not be returning to the team for another season. After their final game, a 2-0 victory over New York City FC, Rooney and the organization announced their decision to part ways. Rooney stated that it was the right time to leave and that he had done his best to try and lead the club to the playoffs. He expressed his enjoyment of his time at D.C. United but felt that it was time to return to England and pursue other opportunities.
Rooney’s contract was set to expire in December, and he had been in talks with the club for a new deal. However, with the team’s playoff chances dwindling, Rooney’s hopes of staying on as coach were diminishing. After a meeting between Rooney and chief executive Jason Levien, they agreed that if the season ended that weekend, Rooney would leave.
Levien praised Rooney for his impact on the team and acknowledged that he had brought improvement to the club. However, the organization is now focused on building out the leadership in the front office and will be hiring a new coach. Levien added that the search for a new coach will begin once a general manager is hired.
Rooney, reflecting on his time as head coach, said that it would benefit him in his future coaching career. He wished the club luck and success moving forward. Assistant coach Pete Shuttleworth, who joined Rooney at D.C. United, will also be leaving.
D.C. United finished the season with a 10-14-10 record and currently holds the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, other teams still have games to play that could push them ahead of United’s point total.
Despite missing out on the playoffs, Rooney expressed his delight in ending the season with a victory. He believes that the club has made progress since last season, even though their goal was to make the playoffs.
In a separate story, D.C. United’s victory over New York City FC marked the end of NYC’s six-game unbeaten streak and damaged their chances of securing a playoff spot.
Overall, it was an eventful end to the season for D.C. United, with Rooney’s departure and a win to close out the year. The team now looks towards the future with the task of finding a new coach and continuing to make improvements.
Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.
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