Rooney reborn in MLS

Former Man United star breathing new life into US capital's flagging franchise

WASHINGTON, DC - All the doubters were wrong about what Wayne Rooney could still do.

More specifically, about what he could do for DC United in Major League Soccer.

Now the English striker and his American club are headed to the MLS playoffs.

When reports first linked the 32-year-old Rooney to the team in the US capital, the two parties were separated by more than the Atlantic Ocean.

Rooney was past his peak as a superstar for his nation and Manchester United, even if he still was a capable scorer in the Premier League.

DC United, meanwhile, stood last in MLS, a league that is a few rungs below Europe's best in terms of quality.

Four months after the deal was struck, and with the start of the MLS knockout round approaching this week, there is more common ground than anyone thought.

That includes reveling in defying critics of the deal, with Rooney leading his new club to one of the most dramatic turnarounds in league history.

"Wayne's influence on this team has been huge - so many factors, so many ways," DCU coach Ben Olsen said on the weekend.

"But he's not the only one that had something to prove around here. I've got something to prove. The team that was here last year has got something to prove. Everybody's here to kind of create their own career."

Rooney's arrival has coincided with a 12-4-3 run, including a five-game winning streak - and a nine-game unbeaten streak - heading into Sunday's regular-season finale at Chicago.

This from a team that was 2-7-5 before his MLS debut.

Rooney leads United with 12 goals after scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over New York FC last weekend that clinched a playoff berth.

That total includes five of DCU's last seven goals, including three last week to help him earn MLS Player of the Week honors.

Rooney also has seven assists, meaning he's played a role in 19 goals over the 19 games played by United since he joined.

Rooney has produced brilliance reminiscent of his years winning five Premier League titles with Manchester United.