Seasons2019-20Everton News

Rooney to join Derby County as player/coach

Tuesday, 6 August, 2019 15comments  |  Jump to last
Former Everton forward Wayne Rooney will join Derby County in a player/coach role next January.

The 33-year-old has spent the last year at Major League Soccer side DC United but in a statement confirming his move back to England, he expressed his desire to prepare for the days after he hangs up his playing boots.

"While the decision to move home was a tough one, family is everything to us and we make this change to be closer to the ones we love back in England," Rooney said.

"The opportunity to go back home and start the next step of my career in coaching was the factor that made my mind up.

"I would like to thank everyone at DC United for the incredible support my family and I have received over my two seasons at the club."

Rooney will wear the No 32 shirt at Derby, despite 7, 12, 13, 15 and 18 (the number he wore at his first spell at Everton) being vacant. This is believed to be part of a newly announced sponsorship deal with 32red, a betting company who, it is rumoured, will also pay a portion of Rooney's £100k-a-week wages.  

Reader Comments (15)

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Jack Convery
1 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:06:09
So Wayne is a RAM, officially. That salary will go down well in the dressing room! 32Red getting involved in community projects and mental health awareness issues is all well and good but will they still be accepting bets from people who really can't afford it. I do hope he succeeds.
Bill Griffiths
2 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:17:04
Let's hope he can help bring help to bring out the best in Kieran Dowell down there.
Kieran Kinsella
3 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:19:05
If he is a man of his word then either he thinks Derby have no chance of promotion or he plans to retire in June.

"I am happy to say now that, whatever may happen in the future, I will never play for another Premier League club.” he said, June 2016.

It could also be like when he was committed to Everton in 2003.

I bet Kieran Dowell is having a déjà vu moment here wondering if they'll also sign Klaassen to push him down the pecking order. Als

o, might be squeaky bum time for Coco. Doesn't seem to have a prior connection to Roo, and Derby seem to like giving their top job to recently retired England players with no managerial experience.

Jack Convery
4 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:22:50
Cocu and Brands are good friends so there's the connection. Maybe he wanted a job at EFC but was told no but we sorted this out for him - who knows. Who cares. We've got OUR project to look forward to.
Matt Traynor
5 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:32:18
He has signed an 18-month contract and will remain at DC United and join Derby in January. I think the US season finishes in September, and if they get to the playoffs, then it extends to October.

Jerome Shields
6 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:42:58
I know some Derby fans, honest people. They do not deserve this.
Derek Knox
7 Posted 06/08/2019 at 17:51:54
Bill @ 2, I watched the Huddersfield v Derby game last night primarily to see how Kieran fared. He was pretty anonymous and his major contribution was conceding a penalty. The Derby fans have been 'tweeting' their displeasure most of the day.

I have followed the progress, of not only Kieran's loan spells at Nottm Forest and Sheffield United, but also his pre-season performances. I am coming to the conclusion that, while there often appears a player in there, it is very sporadic, and he seems to be happy more often than not just to 'tread water'.

Alan J Thompson
8 Posted 06/08/2019 at 18:33:37
Matt (#5); That's the way I read it elsewhere also and wondered who is in charge until then and who has overall coaching responsibilities after January.
Stephen Brown
9 Posted 06/08/2019 at 18:44:40
Good luck to Rooney! Although I'm not looking forward to Derby County changing from Frank Lampard's Derby to now Wayne Rooney's Derby in the mass media!

A friendly against the club previously known as Glasgow Rangers could be good for the summer!!

Si Smith
11 Posted 06/08/2019 at 22:17:35
Good for Rooney, not great for Dowell !!!

Also sick of hearing about Rooney on this site tbh, he was a man u player, not really a blue.

Steve Croston
12 Posted 07/08/2019 at 09:44:43
My first thoughts when I heard this were "Oh, that's nice" No news here, move along.
Danny Broderick
13 Posted 07/08/2019 at 09:51:10
He'll do well for Derby if they get legs around him. He was doing ok for us until Allardyce took over - I think he had scored 12 goals by Christmas. He never scored for us again once Allardyce started playing him in midfield.

If they play him off the striker, he'll get them 10-15 goals, and they may just go up...

Bill Griffiths
14 Posted 07/08/2019 at 10:00:02
Got to admit Derek, Kieran is pretty inconsistent with his performances. I think he had everything needed to make it except for will power and mental strength.
Hope you and the guys have a good session at the Excelsior, unfortunately I can't make it due to 45th wedding anniversary celebrations.
Les Green
15 Posted 07/08/2019 at 10:09:48
If Yerry Mina was punished for appearing in a betting ad in Columbia, then I can't wait to see what happens to Rooney once the FA realise a gambling company are not only paying his 100k weekly wage, but also making him wear a shirt number advertising their company, AND appearing in all their advertising (I just saw a poster type ad welcoming him, and the words "Derby" and "County" were not even on it)
Mike Gaynes
16 Posted 12/08/2019 at 10:59:03
Of interest to those who are interested in Rooney:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3913730/why-wayne-rooney-swapped-dc-for-derby-and-how-it-limits-his-mls-legacy

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