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Wayne Rooney’s career deserves a happy ending, in MLS or not

By Jake Walerius

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Wayne Rooney of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on April 23, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Wayne Rooney of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on April 23, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Wayne Rooney has reportedly agreed in principal to a move to DC United, but what does the former Manchester United player have left to offer?

If, as has been widely reported over the past few days, Wayne Rooney joins DC United this summer, he will join an auspicious list of global superstars to have plied their trade in MLS — not that it really feels that way.

Rooney is Manchester United and England’s all-time record goalscorer, the winner of six Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups — not that it really feels that way either.

Rooney’s late career has been chastening, so much so it’s occasionally hard to reconcile his current self with the force of nature he used to be. In the four seasons since 2013-14, when he scored 17 in the Premier League, he has scored 12, eight, five and 10 goals.

The return to Everton at the beginning of this season following a respectful if somewhat awkward phasing out at United under Jose Mourinho was supposed to mark a rejuvenation of sorts, a chance for Rooney to end his career on a high note at his boyhood club.

It hasn’t worked out. Everton, through no real fault of Rooney’s, have been a mess this season, firing Ronald Koeman after nine games, before bringing in David Unsworth and the Sam Allardyce, who has antagonized his way to a miserable mid-table finish.

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The fact Rooney has managed 10 goals for this team is a minor achievement in itself, and the best reason to hope he could have more, in a more well-built team, to give. Whether DC United, last in MLS’ Eastern Conference, are that team is, well, we’ll find out soon enough.

Whatever happens, Rooney’s a player worth rooting for, a player who has had to put up with a near-constant din of criticism, mostly for having the temerity to be the best English player of his generation.

This presumably isn’t the way Rooney wanted it to end, and there’s a real chance he simply can’t deliver in MLS (32 isn’t over the hill, but Rooney’s been doing this since he was 16, and the wear and tear shows), but his has been a career deserving of a positive final act. Here’s hoping.

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