MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 21:18:11| >> :60:1427:1427:

Jose Mourinho backs Wayne Rooney to shine in Major League Soccer

Mourinho backs Rooney to shine in MLS
© Reuters
Jose Mourinho suggests that Wayne Rooney can help to raise the profile of soccer in the United States following his switch from Everton to DC United.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has supported Wayne Rooney's decision to swap the Premier League for Major League Soccer.

The Red Devils' all-time leading goalscorer brought an end to his 16-year spell in English football this week by agreeing to join DC United on a rumoured three-and-a-half-year contract.

Rooney is the latest in a long list of names to wind down his career in MLS, with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard the most recent high-profile English exports to try their luck Stateside.

Mourinho, who managed Rooney at Old Trafford for one season before his short-term return to Everton, expects the 32-year-old to further raise the profile of the sport in the United States.

"When he made it at Everton, his boyhood club, the world was surprised with that kid and then he went to Manchester United and he had the incredible career he had," The Sun quotes him as saying.

"Then in the Premier League again at Everton Football Club, so I think his career in England was perfect. He decides the MLS [is next] and in MLS, you have always some iconic players that are going to end their career there.

"You had Gerrard, you had Lampard, you had [Patrick] Vieira, you had so many of them. David Beckham played there, too. You now have Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], you now have Wayne.

"I just hope he enjoys it and, of course, he'll bring the attention that the MLS needs to attract more people, to steal some people from the other sports that normally the American people are in love with."

Rooney is due to be unveiled by DC United early next week and is in line to make his debut on July 14.

ID:329578: cacheID:329578:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3008:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wayne Rooney in action for Everton on April 7, 2018
Read Next:
Rooney: 'Moving to MLS a career ambition'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
FT
Lions
24-6
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
FT
Buccaneers
30-7
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!