The DC United manager will lead the MLS XI as they take on Premier League side Arsenal in the All-Star Game.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Jul 18th, 2023 22:50 EDT
BASTIEN INZAURRALDEAFP
As a player Wayne Rooney featured in the MLS All-Star Game twice, once on each side of the showpiece event. In 2011 he was in the touring Manchester United team who competed in the fixture and later went on to represent the MLS side while playing for DC United.
On Wednesday Rooney will complete a hat-trick of All-Star Game appearances when he takes charge of the MLS team to face Arsenal.
In an interview with The Times, Rooney outlined his plans for the game: “I get the players on Monday and my main message will be, ‘Go out and have fun’.”
“I’ll just put them in a shape and give some basic details, because there’ll be so many changes that you can’t do much more than that.”
“But I think we’ll compete,” he added. “We have some really good players. They’ll make it a difficult game for Arsenal. On Monday, a few of the lads are going to the White House.”
Cool backstory here @WLWT: FC Cincinnati star Luciano Acosta thought he was just heading to the White House for a tour ahead of tomorrow night's MLS All-Star Match.President Joe Biden made an unplanned stop & spent time with the players including the MLS All-Star Captain. pic.twitter.com/SQNq9ieyQv
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) July 18, 2023
Rooney keen to continue managerial journey in MLS
The 37-year-old is now in his second season as an MLS manager and his DC United team are much-improved. He began his coaching career in the English second tier with Derby County but decided that he could broaden his horizons with a move to the United States.
“It’s why I wanted to come here,” Rooney said, “Because all the time I’m learning different things and benefiting as a coach by experiencing different things.”
“I feel like I’m on a journey. This is my third year managing, in two very different and difficult circumstances. And I feel you have to go through this to get to where you want to go.”
Leading a team in a one-off fixture like the All-Star Game presents unique challenges for Rooney but he has been eager to embrace features of US soccer that may previously have felt alien. He recently completed his Pro License with the English FA, delivering his final presentation on the contrasting transfer systems of MLS and the Premier League.
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Wayne Rooney welcomes his MLS All Star Team at American University-Reeves Athletic Complex. Amber SearlsUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
New experiences vital for Rooney
Before moving to DC United at the age of 33 Rooney had never played outside of England. However he believes that the experience of playing and subsequently coaching overseas has broadened his knowledge and allowed him to progress as a coach.
He explained: “I look at Arsène Wenger going out to Japan, Carlos Queiroz coaching in loads of different places. So many managers have been in different countries and learned before getting to the top level and I just felt it was right for me.”
