Football legend Wayne Rooney is out as head coach of D.C. United. The MLS club and Rooney agreed mutually to part ways, as United missed the postseason for the second-straight season.

“We have spoken with Wayne and agreed it is best for us to part ways at this time,” Jason Levien, CEO and co-chairman of D.C. United, said in a news release.

Rooney took over as coach for D.C. United in July 2022. On Saturday, the club wrapped up its second season with Rooney with a 2-0 win over New York City. D.C. United concluded its season with a 10-14-10 mark, but with pending results around the league, United is guaranteed not to finish in the top nine of the Eastern Conference standings.

According to Steven Goff of The Washington Post, Rooney, whose contract expires in December, was seeking a contract extension. After a meeting with Levien, the two sides agreed for Rooney and the club to part ways.

“I have really enjoyed my time here, but I just feel it’s the right time to go back to England. What lies ahead, I don’t know,” Wayne Rooney said, per Goff.

D.C. United plans to hire a general manager before getting a new head coach. The club has been without a GM since last winter. The general manager will lead the charge to find the team’s next coach.

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DC United announced Friday that two players, Taxi Fountas, and Nigel Robertha, have been placed on paid administrative leave for possible violations of MLS policy. MLS is investigating a confrontation between both players that DC United reported to the league.

Robertha physically attacked Fountas after Fountas allegedly used a racial slur directed at his teammate, according to The Athletic.

The Washington Post added the altercation stemmed from Foutnas getting angry about Robertha’s performance during a 4-0 DC United loss to the New England Revolution in Foxborough, MA. Robertha struck Fountas with a foam roller.

MLS previously investigated Fountas for allegations of using a racial slur. In September, an Inter Miami player accused Fountas of saying a racial slur during a game. MLS found the allegation “credible” but couldn’t verify the incident, leading to no disciplinary action against Fountas.

Also on Friday, DC United fired athletic trainer Rede Whitney for using a discriminatory hand gesture considered a racial trope in a staff photo during an MLS All-Star Game practice. The gesture is known as the “okay” sign and has recently been associated with white supremacists.

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England great footballer Wayne Rooney has agreed to terms on a multiyear deal to become the next manager of D.C. United, according to the Washington Post’s Steven Goff. The deal is expected to be finalized in the next coming days.

Rooney had a previous stint with D.C. United as a player. From 2018-2019 Rooney appeared in 48 games with the Black and Red while producing 23 goals. Despite a three-and-a-half year contract, Rooney left to return to England to be a player-coach for EFL Championship side Derby County. 

He eventually became the manager during the 2020-21 season. His efforts as a manager helped the club stave off relegation. However, Derby County endured a tumultuous 2021-22 season that resulted in relegation following multiple point deductions for entering administration and breaching the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules.

Rooney resigned from Derby County on June 24.

Rooney reportedly drew interest from Premier League clubs. But, he had his eyes suited on D.C. United as a manager and conversations with the MLS club for “weeks” according to reports.

Rooney will replace interim manager Chad Ashton, who took over after the dismissal of Hernan Losado earlier this season. Ashton’s appointment supposed to have been until at least the end of the season. However, the club has struggled on the field and fresh off a 7-0 drubbing to the Philadelphia Union. It’s the worst defeat in the club’s history.

Rooney is widely regarded as England’s top footballer. He started his pro career with Everton. But, he grew into legendary status with Manchester United. He is the club’s all-time top goal scorer with 253 in all competitions.

He’s also the top goal scorer for the England national team with 53 goals in 120 games.

Rooney arrived at Dulles Airport just outside of D.C. There he met two DCU staffers before leaving the airport with them.

The 36-year old Rooney will now use his expertise to help put D.C. United back on track. The four-time MLS Cup champion hasn’t reached the playoffs since Rooney departed following the 2019 season.

According to Goff, Rooney will attempt to persuade players he knows to sign with United during the transfer window. 35-year old Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez will be among Rooney’s targets.

D.C. United is currently 5-2-10 on the season and 13th in the MLS Eastern Conference standings.

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DC Fire and EMS responded to a call of multiple fires reported at the vacant RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The stadium was once home to the Washington NFL franchise, MLB’s Washington Nationals and most recently MLS’s DC United.

Smoke could be seen outside of the stadium.

DC Fire officials said the multiple fires were located on the east side of the stadium. They were mostly below grade levels.

About an hour later, DC Fire and EMS updated the situation, confirming they had the situation under control. All fires were found and extinguished. There were no injuries reported. 

Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnell Sr. addressed the media after the fire was under control.

“It was trickling up through the stadium out of different pathways. It’s a pretty open-air stadium. Where the fire was, it’s opened all the way up, so it’s going to happen. Today with the heat and humidity, the air is dense so it’s hard to move smoke out of tall the different rooms that are in the basement,” Connelly said.

The cause of the fire had yet to be determined.

RFK Stadium, named after former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was the home of the Washington NFL franchise from 1961 until 1996. The team moved to its current home stadium, FedEx Field, in nearby Landover, Maryland in 1997. 

The old Washington Senators also played home games at RFK from 1962-1971. Baseball returned to the stadium for three seasons, as the Washington Nationals called it home from 2005-2007 after the team was relocated from Montreal. The club moved to Nationals Park in 2008. 

The last major tenant was DC United. The club claimed all four of its MLS Cups while playing at RFK. DC United played there from 1996-2017 before moving to the recently built Audi Field. 

RFK Stadium has been in headlines recently, as the now-Washington Commanders have targeted the site for a potential new stadium. However, the majority of the DC City Council doesn’t support a new stadium at the site. 

In the meantime, the stadium has become old and decrepit without any use.

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DC United has fired head coach Hernan Losada the club announced. Assistant Chad Ashton has been named the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Losada’s firing comes less than 24 hours after DC United defeated third-tier NISL club Flower City Union in the U.S. Open Cup.

DC United has dropped four straight games in MLS play. They’re currently last in the Eastern Conference with a 2-0-4 record.

Losada was hired by DCU in January 2021. He previously was the manager of Belgian league club Beerschot. In his first year leading the Black and Red just missed out on the MLS playoffs. 

The club had a roster overhaul this offseason with 15 new players. Unfortunately, the team struggled to get through its first six MLS games.

“We believe that Chad’s ability to prepare for upcoming opponents and man manage players and in-game strategic match situations paired with his knowledge of the league will provide a springboard to further progress our style of play and enable us to compete at a higher-level as we push forward for a successful season,” said Dave Kasper, President of Soccer Operations for D.C. United.

Losada departs DC with a 16-19-5 record.

This will be Ashton’s second stint as interim manager for DCU. His first came in 2020 following the firing of Ben Olsen.

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DC United had to persevere through a few obstacles to draw with Toronto FC in the MLS is Back tournament opener for both clubs. The match was postponed twice after initially being set for Friday.

Then DC United got off to a sluggish start in the Orlando heat, falling down 2-0 before halftime. DC United midfielder Junior Moreno picked up a second yellow card for a reckless tackle during injury time in the first half, leaving the club a man down for the duration of the match.

However, the club battled back in the second half. Federico Higuain scored in the 84th minute to pull DC United within one goal.

DC United’s rally culminated with Frederic Brillant’s equalizer during injury time to take away a point from Toronto FC.

The first delay of the game was caused to the late arrival of Toronto FC to ESPN’s World Wide of Spots complex. The second postponement was a result of a positive coronavirus test for a DC United player and an inclusive test for a Toronto FC player.

However, a second test for each player was negative. Both players were held out of Monday’s rescheduled match for precaution and was given a third round of testing.

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There is no shortage of sports organizations, companies and corporations showing their support to the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Statements and posts have flooded social media in the past week. However, DC United took it one step further.

The MLS club painted “I Can’t Breathe” and “BLM” on the turf of their home stadium, Audi Field.

DC United players, families, staff and other supporters assisted in the painting. They all took a knee in solidarity for the final image.

The gesture comes amid protests that have swept through the United States of America and throughout the rest of the world. There has been a great amount of unrest of social injustice. Voices have been louder than before.

DC United is showing their support in the Black Lives Matter movement. The Audi Field painting comes on the heels of DC mayor Muriel Bowser commissioning a “Black Lives Matter” mural on a street leading to the White House. She also renamed the intersection “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”

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Wayne Rooney’s MLS career is over, ending in dramatic fashion. Toronto FC scored four extra time goals to beat DC United 5-1 in the first round of the MLS Playoffs.

Rooney is headed back to England to join Derby County in the English Championship as a player and assistant coach.

Trailing 1-0, DC United got an equalizer in the 93rd minute, forcing extra time.

That’s win TFC went on a tear, scoring in the 93rd, 95th, 103rd and 105th minutes.

Richie Laryea put Toronto ahead 2-1 beating goaltender Bill Hamid from close range. Michael Bradley forced a turnover before finding Nick DeLeon to extend Toronto’s lead to two goals. Drew Moor scored next off a header and Jonathan Osorio scored his second goal of the match to cap the four-goal outburst.

Wayne Rooney joined DC United in July 2018 as they opened their new stadium Audi Field. From there he gave DC United fans memories. He finishes his MLS career with 45 goals and 15 assists in 48 regular season games.

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Wayne Rooney’s move to DC United surprised some as the then 32-year-old forward’s move came when he was a lot younger than most European stars who come to MLS as designated players. Rooney proved he still has plenty left in the tank when he scored the unquestioned goal of the season against a struggling Orlando City. Rooney saw goalie Brian Rowe off of his line, and banged one in from past the midfield line to give DC a 1-0 lead.

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Wayne Rooney continues to impress even at the age of 33. Rooney propelled DC United to a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew as he deposited a free kick at the 27th minute of Wednesday’s match.

Rooney has been superb in his second season with DC United. He now has a team-leading five goals to go along with his team-leading three assists in nine matches played.

Keeping track of his time in the nation’s capital, Rooney has 17 goals and 10 assists in 28 matches. Impressive to say the least.

DC United is first in the Eastern Conference standings with 17 points.

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