Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
Mea Culpa.
I was one of the many who thought Wayne Rooney in MLS would be more akin to the Lampard and Gerrard experiences rather some of MLS’ great superstars in their twilight like Villa, Drogba and Keane. There were probably many DC United fans who probably expected disaster too, because Rooney’s season with Everton wasn’t exactly stellar.
But all Rooney has done is transform DCU from an also-ran into a bonafide playoff threat in the Eastern Conference and has done wonders for his perception not just here, but perhaps in England too. Rooney has 10 goals since playing in his first game on July 14, not coincidentally DC’s first in Audi Field. He also has 7 assists, all in 18 games. Averaging a goal or assist in nearly every game is elite by any standard, let alone someone who is basically elevating a team on his own to the postseason. DC is 11-3-4 with Rooney, 2-5-7 without him. According to Opta, DC is averaging two points a game with Rooney and 0.8 without him. He and Luciano Acosta have formed one of the best combinations going forward in MLS, perhaps since Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins reaped souls earlier in the decade for Seattle, and there’s no doubt that Rooney’s impact on a club that was lost in the woods is seismic.
They’ve gone from the basement in the East before their first Audi Field game to sixth place and four points clear of Montreal Impact. With a win on Sunday over NYCFC, they’re in, and amazingly, they could still host a playoff game. They will have to win away from home to have any success going forward, which they haven’t done with Rooney in tow (0-2-2 in four games), but somehow you think a team with this kind of momentum and drive will render that irrelevant in a one game playoff, right?
So what is it that Rooney has done to elevate this team like the best foreign big name DP’s have done? He’s elevated the team around him not just on the field, but culture wise too. Everyone in DC is now following Rooney’s lead, so much so that he’s even piqued the interest of DCU’s former stars like Jaime Moreno to say that he’s done the job for the shirt. Everyone has picked up on Rooney’s good habits in training and in the locker room, meaning that Rooney has accepted the challenge of leading this group and has done so. For accepting this challenge and running with it as he has, Rooney deserves immense credit. Coming into MLS now is harder than ever before, and as teams are shifting away from foreign stars later in their careers for DP slots, succeeding as one is perhaps now not even expected anymore. With Rooney performing more like David Villa, Thierry Henry and Zlatan than some of his former England running mates, he may have written a chapter in his career that few expected him to write after his twilight years in the Premier League.
Rooney is not solely responsible for DCU’s revival and transformation, though he’s certainly the figurehead for it. Ben Olsen’s new tactics, including a high press, have worked extremely well and Russell Canouse has been stellar as an old-fashioned number 6; so much so that USMNT calls are in Canouse’s future. But it’s hard to imagine the Black and Red pulling this off without Rooney’s leadership and quality; not just in the insane moments like his free kick against Toronto FC and his insane play to save and win game for DC over Orlando. He has carried himself like he wanted to accept a challenge and knew that he was in for a challenge coming to MLS now and becoming the point man for a club’s complete revival. By doing that, he’s done what few DP’s of his ilk have done: he’s taken a team by the scruff of the neck and transformed them from also-ran to contender, and one of the most fascinating teams in the entire league.
His challenges are not done, because he will have to take this team even higher in the playoffs, where the challenges will get even tougher. He will also have to repeat this feat next year, when the schedule is less favorable and DCU will not be surprising anyone like they have this year. But to get to this point, on the back of Rooney rising to this challenge, is one of the more amazing stories in MLS, and one that comes as a surprise to many, including me.
Wayne Rooney has proven me, and many others wrong.
