Wayne Rooney’s MLS exit was predictable. What comes next is not

The former England striker's DC United tenure was mostly a failure. But learning his craft away from the spotlight has allowed him to develop at his own pace

DC United wanted Wayne Rooney to pull off the managerial equivalent of his finest moment in Major League Soccer as a player. Every fan of DC United remembers the former England captain's tackle and assist in the dying moments of a match against Orlando City in August 2018, when Rooney essentially did everything himself to turn around a game on his own. DC United hired him to do the same as a manager.

Unsurprisingly, the ploy didn't work. Rooney announced his departure as DC United boss on Saturday after his team were all but eliminated from playoff contention. Rooney is now expected to take over at Birmingham City, who sacked John Eustace on Monday to clear space in the St Andrew's dugout. The Championship club co-owned by Tom Brady wanted a big-name manager and Rooney certainly ticks that box.