D.C. is 5-10-2 for 17 factors, tied with Chicago for the fewest within the 28-team league.
Team officers mentioned they didn’t need to remark. Paul Stretford, Rooney’s longtime agent, didn’t journey with Rooney however was anticipated to arrive in Washington this week.
Those shut to the state of affairs, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to focus on the matter freely, mentioned the perimeters are quickly anticipated to finalize a multiyear deal price no less than $1 million yearly, which might be the very best teaching wage in membership historical past.
Once the deal is accomplished and he receives a piece allow, Rooney will take the reins from interim coach Chad Ashton, who changed Hernán Losada six video games into the season. Ashton will proceed to information the crew till then. Ashton is then anticipated to return to the assistant position he has stuffed for a lot of the previous 15 years. Until he receives the allow, which generally takes two to three weeks, Rooney will function a crew marketing consultant, one individual mentioned.
Ashton was knowledgeable of the teaching determination over the weekend, and through a digital crew assembly Sunday, membership officers instructed the gamers of Rooney’s impending arrival.
Rooney — a Manchester United legend and the best scorer in English nationwide crew historical past — retired in January 2021, shortly after being named coach of Derby County, a second-flight English squad. He stepped down final month after Derby, riddled by monetary issues, was relegated to the third division.
Rooney plans to rent an assistant from English circles, one individual mentioned, and try to persuade European-based gamers he is aware of to signal with United through the switch window — which is open till Aug. 4 — or earlier than the 2023 season.
Among the targets, that individual mentioned, is Uruguayan ahead Luis Suárez, the 35-year-old former Liverpool, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid star who’s a free agent. United has two open slots for designated gamers, the MLS classification for high-end acquisitions.
Since leaving United after the 2019 season, Rooney has remained pleasant with some D.C. gamers and crew executives, who’ve consulted with him a number of occasions on doable participant signings.
United has not certified for the playoffs since Rooney’s second yr in MLS. He had deliberate to play in Washington no less than another season, however as a result of his household wasn’t snug dwelling overseas, he and the membership agreed to half methods. It’s unclear when his spouse and 4 kids will be a part of him right here.
What additionally remained unclear Sunday was whether or not United complied with MLS’s diversity hiring policy, which requires no less than two non-White candidates among the many finalists for technical employees positions. No different names have surfaced publicly.
The league does grant waivers below “extenuating circumstances.” United didn’t have to observe that coverage when Ashton changed Losada as a result of it was filling the job on an interim foundation.
An MLS spokesman mentioned the league would offer an replace Monday.
