Wayne Rooney stops playing to take over in Derby County

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Wayne Rooney has retired from football after being appointed permanent manager of Derby County on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Rooney, a former England and Manchester United striker, had been in charge of the EFL Championship club since Phillip Cocu left in November.

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“When I first returned to the UK, I was completely impressed by the potential of the Derby County Football Club,” Rooney said in a statement. “The stadium, the training ground, the quality of the playing staff and the young players who arrive and, of course, the fan base that has remained loyal and supportive.

“Despite other offers, I knew Derby County was the perfect place for me. To be given the opportunity to continue as Brian Clough, Jim Smith, Frank Lampard and Phillip Cocu is an honor and I can promise everyone who they participate in the club and all our fans, my staff and I will not leave any stone to reach the potential that I have witnessed during the last twelve months of this historic football club “.

Chief Executive Stephen Pearce added: “We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Wayne Rooney as the new manager.

“Our recent rise in results under Wayne was marred along with some positive performances, in particular the 2-0 win at home against Swansea City and the 4-0 win at Birmingham City.

“During this race of nine games, we also drastically improved their defensive record and recorded five clean sheets in the process, while in the third attack we were also more effective and ruthless.

“These foundations have provided a platform for the club to consolidate during the second half of the season under Wayne’s guidance.”

Since taking office, Rooney, who has been a player coach since arriving in January 2020, has coached alongside coaches Shay given, Liam Rosenior and Justin Walker.

Rooney, who played for DC United in MLS between 2018 and 2020, had said in November that he would retire from professional football if given the full-time Derby job.

The 35-year-old has overseen a rebound in the way he made them lose only once in eight games. However, they have lost three of their last four games, including a non-league FA Cup third-round outing against Chorley that was overshadowed by a coronavirus outbreak.

Rooney began his career at Everton from his childhood and became the youngest Premier League goal scorer at the age of 16 with an impressive win against Arsenal in October 2002.

In 2004, he joined United for £ 27 million to become the most expensive teenager in the world. He remained at the club for 13 years and during that time won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, the League Cup four times, the Europa League, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

In 2017, he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with his 250th in a 1-1 draw with Stoke and left at the end of the campaign with a total of 253 to return to the ‘Everton.

He left after 18 months at Goodison Park to join DC United, where he remained for two seasons before moving to the Derby in 2019.

Rooney retired from international football with England in 2018 as the country’s record top scorer with 53 out of 120 appearances. He played three world cups.

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