Watch as the 2023 MLS All-Stars, team led by head coach Wayne Rooney, take on Arsenal FC in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game on July 19 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. (8:30 p.m. ET / MLS Season Pass).
Wayne Rooney began his professional career at 16 years old playing for Everton FC and Manchester United in the Premier League, where he appeared in 464 games, scoring 208 goals and assisting 103. As a player, Rooney won the UEFA Champions League once, the English Premier Leagues five times, one Europa League, and one FIFA Club World Cup trophy, among other trophies at the club level. Wayne Rooney continued his star-studded career when he joined MLS in 2018 as a Designated Player for D.C. United. That year, Rooney had a significant impact on the team, becoming the team’s top scorer and a locker room leader.
After two seasons with D.C., where he appeared in 52 matches, scored 23 goals, and assisted on 14, Rooney left MLS to play with English Championship side Derby County for two seasons. Before arriving as the head coach at D.C. United, Rooney also held a coaching stint with Derby County. After helping Derby County avoid relegation, Rooney signed a contract to manage his former MLS club.
In 2010, Rooney played against the MLS All-Stars in Houston, and this year, he is managing the MLS All-Star team against former Premier League rival Arsenal. Rooney will look to topple the Premier League giants on July 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET in his home stadium, Audi Field.
Hablando Con Series...
Each month, the MLS communications department will conduct an interview with league figures and provide the transcript to the media.
We invite you to use this interview in whole or in part for your MLS coverage.
Media Assets:
We invite you to use this interview in whole or in part for your MLS coverage.
Interview with Wayne Rooney…
We are a few days away from the big event here in Washington, DC, at your home stadium, Audi Field. What are you looking forward to the most ahead of the MLS All-Star Game?
I think it's obviously something different, which we don't have in Europe. I've played in it twice and there are all the expectations around the game, which I think is great for fans to come and be part of, as well as watching and seeing the best players in the league against obviously a very good Arsenal team. I think it's an exciting game for everyone and I'm just as excited as everyone else.
In your first MLS All-Star Game ever, you played as a rival, when your Manchester United team beat 4-0 the MLS All-Star team in 2011 at Red Bull Arena. What do you recall of that first experience?
Obviously, I remember the game well. The day before I went to the press conferences, I didn't really understand what it was and how big that the game was back then. And obviously being Manchester United on the other side of it, [it was hard] to really understand what it was and how it all worked. But that was until I played in the All-Star Game against Atletico Madrid. You see what it is and what it means to everyone and what it means to the players picked to play in the game. I’ve got good memories of both games and fond memories, which I'll always keep perfect.
Your second MLS All-Star Game was as part of the MLS All-Stars in 2019 against Atletico Madrid. What do you remember from that experience?
I remember meeting up outside with a couple of players who I played with back in Manchester, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. They were in the game also and I remember meeting up and it was nice to meet obviously old teammates at the game, during a training session at the stadium and then in the preparations for the game. It was just a short time, it's a short page there. We have to show you the skills event the day before, which was good fun, and think of the players to take part in that event process. The fans go and watch it and then the game the following evening. It was enjoyable. I enjoyed the game, and it was a good game against Atletico Madrid. Yeah, I really enjoyed the experience.
Experiencing it now being a coach, what does it mean for you?
I'm excited to be coaching the team and the different players from across the league, some voted in and then some selected by myself as well. I'm excited to coach them to win the game because I think it'll be a fun game, but obviously we want to be competitive as well.
What is the most challenging thing about assembling a roster of players who play for different clubs and can only train for two days?
I think the most important thing is that they come, have fun, and enjoy it because it's a big game and a big occasion. But I think the main thing for everyone really is to come and enjoy it and have fun and really, as the coach, that’s what I want from the players to have fun and have a good time. [I want them to] do the work in terms of training, matchday, and come and enjoy the occasion because I think that's important.
You’ve faced Arsenal countless times during your time at Manchester United. Knowing the system and style of play now under head coach Mikel Arteta, how are you approaching this match?
Of course, it's going to be a difficult game. Arsenal is a very good team; they did very well last year in the Premier League. So yeah, it's going to be a difficult game so we just have to approach it with a game plan of what you feel that can win the game. You don't have much time to coach the players. I’ll be trying to do as much as I can to get the information to players and then go and try to win the game.
What sort of expectations will you be setting for the All-Stars ahead of this match?
To be competitive and enjoy it. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and a lot of people will be watching it on TV as well. So, it's important that we are competitive and try and win the game and have fun and enjoy the occasion because and I think as I said before, I think it's important that you do enjoy it.
On D.C. United…
Let’s talk about DC United. Currently, the team sits in the 8th position of the Eastern Conference right in the zone for Playoffs qualification… With 11 games still to be played, how are you approaching the second half of the season?
Same as the first half. I think we’re in a spot where we should be higher and on-field performances deserve that. We know where we are and it's an important last half of the season. So yeah, we approach it in the same way and have the same preparations for games. Tactically, we are trying to win games all that same. That’s no different than the first half.
What’s the key in keeping this team motivated?
Well, if I can’t motivate the players then I might as well stop, simple. As a coach, you have to motivate players to not only want to play games, but to train every day. And that's part of your job as a coach.
On Lionel Messi…
On June 7, Lionel Messi expressed his interest in signing with Inter Miami. What can you tell us about Messi and his move to MLS?
Yeah, I think it's a great move obviously for MLS, I think commercially, it’ll be a huge thing to draw interest again from different regions of the world. I'm sure it will do that as well because you get arguably the best player to ever play the game. I'm sure he’ll come here and be competitive and help [Inter] Miami climb the table. So, I think not just him -- fans, coaches, and players, I think everyone's excited to have him in the league.
D.C. United faced Inter Miami on July 8. We didn’t see Messi in that game, but a potential encounter in the playoffs with a team that includes Messi, potentially Sergio Busquets, and others, how do you envision that?
Firstly, for ourselves and Miami, we have to qualify for the playoffs. And if we do come against Miami later in the playoffs, then our focus will be on trying to beat Miami, not [Lionel] Messi. So, I'm sure that's going to happen a lot this this last half of the season. But first, we have to get there.
