Wayne Rooney's relatively short but quite eventful stint in Major League Soccer came to an end with D.C. United's 5-1 extra-time loss to Toronto FC in Round One of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday night, and on Monday the English icon bid goodbye to his Stateside teammates, colleagues and fans for good.
Rooney shared a heartfelt message of thanks and farewell in a post across his social-media channels as he prepares to open the next chapter of his career as a player/coach at English Championship side Derby County, a move he announced during the summer but which officially goes into effect when the winter transfer window opens at year's end. He reportedly wasted little time in departing D.C. to begin that process on Monday:
He finishes his MLS career with 23 goals and 15 assists in 48 regular-season appearances (45 starts), highlighted by two particularly stunning plays at Audi Field, both against Orlando City: The game-saving tackle and game-winning assist to Luciano Acostain a 3-2 win on Aug. 12, 2018 and this year's stunning golazo from inside D.C.'s half in a 1-0 win on June. 26.
