Wayne Rooney returns to D.C. United - Suárez and Lingard transfer targets?

This article first appeared on July 11 and was updated after Rooney was announced by D.C. United. 

The pictures of Wayne Rooney arriving at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. went around the world. Just weeks after his engagement at former Championship side Derby County was ended by mutual termination, the former England international returns to his former Major League Soccer club D.C. United as a head coach. The MLS club confirmed the deal on Tuesday. 

“Wayne is a soccer legend and one of the most exciting and dynamic up-and-coming managers in our sport. He’s already proven in his young coaching career that he knows how to lead a group through adversity,” said Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan co-chairmen of D.C. United in a club statement. “He has an understanding of our league and what it takes to be successful in Major League Soccer thanks to his two-year stay with us as a player."

The 36-year-old left D.C. United at the end of the 2019 season after scoring 25 goals and 14 assists in 52 games across all competitions of the club. Rooney then played two seasons as player-manager at Derby County before becoming the coach of the Championship side full-time ahead of the 2021/22 season. In charge of 84 games, Rooney's record at Derby was 25-38-21. Throughout his tenure, Derby struggled with financial issues and was deducted 21 points, which ultimately cost the club its spot in the English second division, and Rooney opted to leave the club.

D.C. United, in the meantime, have struggled all season and are tied with the Chicago Fire for the fewest points in MLS. Rooney would become the full-time successor of Hernán Losada, who was fired by the club in the spring—Chad Ashton has been in charge as the interim head coach since April. 

D.C. United want Suárez - Lingard also a transfer target?

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that Rooney is set to earn $1 million a season—the highest salary for a head coach in club history. Rooney will also have wide-reaching powers to speak to European stars as the club is looking to fill its two remaining Designated Player spots. One potential target is Uruguayan free agent Luis Suárez; another potential target is English free agent Jesse Lingard—the 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to MLS.