Wayne Rooney named D.C. United captain after 3 games

D.C. United, without a captain through the start of the MLS season, have handed the armband to ex-England skipper Wayne Rooney.

Rooney joined D.C. earlier this month and has featured in just three games so far for the Maryland franchise. However, long-serving coach Ben Olsen explained the positive impact the 32-year-old has had on the team both on and off the pitch in his first few weeks in the United States.

"Wayne has the respect of the guys, not only from his past but also the way he has been the last few weeks being here," Olsen told the Washington Post's Steven Goff. "We've had some good discussions on his leadership role, and I think he will embrace it and do a good job with it.

"It was important for us to see how Wayne interacted with the team over the last couple weeks. In some ways, it (the new captain) was always going to be Wayne."

Rooney's move to MLS this summer was the latest high-profile acquisition by the league and has increased interest in the capital's soccer side. He is yet to make too much of a decisive impact on the pitch, however, registering one assist in 130 minutes of playing time thus far.

D.C. had been without an official on-field captain for the first half of the current campaign, although last year's skipper Steve Birnbaum has been listed as such on the lineup sheet this term. "Steve is a good leader, understands chemistry and team dynamics, and is a very good communicator to the staff - all the things you want in a leader," Olsen continued. "But Wayne is a little bit of a different type of guy. It's logical. It makes sense."

Rooney will expect to start as captain Saturday when his side takes on the Colorado Rapids. He will face off against his former Manchester United teammate Tim Howard as he searches for his first MLS goal.