How Wayne Rooney transformed DC United from serial losers into playoff hopefuls
WAYNE ROONEY'S move from Everton to MLS strugglers DC United was met with a series of raised eyebrows in July.
England's all-time leading-scorer is still only 32-years-old and felt he still had plenty to offer.
Rather than stick around in the Premier League, Roo opted to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and have a crack at the MLS.
Whatever you made of the move, it's simply impossible to ignore just how influential Rooney has been in America - particularly for his DC United squad.
When the former Everton and Manchester United star first moved to the US, his new side were struggling near the foot of the Eastern Conference standings.
In fact, DC United's playoff hopes were all-but over, with Rooney's arrival thought to be only preparation for a 2019 season charge.
But instead, the England legend has dragged the capital city club kicking and screaming into the playoff picture with a series of dominant displays.
Since making his debut, DC United have won ten of the 17 matches, losing only three - averaging a more than impressive two points per game.
Prior to Roo leaving Everton, the Washington-based outfit had mustered just TWO victories in 14 and averaged a mere 0.8 points per game, including seven defeats.
With only the top six in each conference making it to the post-season, DC United now sit sixth - a point ahead of Montreal Impact with a game in hand.
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Better still for United... they are only three games remaining to cling onto their spot.
As ever, Rooney's passion has been evident and he looks resurgent away from the spotlight that is the Premier League.
Nothing encapsulated Roo's new life in America than one game in August... in a 3-2 win over Kaka's former club, Orlando City.
With the scores level at 2-2 in the dying embers of the game, Rooney charged back to what was a near-open goal for Orlando and made a superb, goal - and match - saving tackle.
The ex-England star turned, charged forwards, delivered a millimetre-perfect cross into the box - met by Luciano Acosta to score a famous winner.
Wayne Rooney's DC United stats
GAMES: 16
GOALS: 9
ASSISTS: 7
GOAL + ASSISTS (per game): 1
The victory ensured the side's playoff dreams were kept alive and the club simply haven't looked back since.
Rooney suffered an horrific facial injury while in Washington too, requiring five stitches after a horror clash of heads.
Despite the nature of the injury, the ex-Toffees man refused to take a day off and kept playing, saying: "I'll play as normal. Of course, if I get a bang on it, it will be painful."
His attitude has been contagious too, with his club-mates appearing to raise their game as they now seem certainties for a playoff spot.
All in all, Rooney has scored nine times in 16 MLS appearances - including five in his last four - to go with seven assists... with a playoff spot now beckoning.