ENGLISH striker Wayne Rooney and his American club D.C. United are headed to the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs.

When reports first linked the 32-year-old Rooney to the team in the U.S. 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. D.C. United, meanwhile, stood last in the MLS, a league that is a few rungs in quality below Europe’s best.

Four months after the deal was done, and with the start of the MLS knockout round approaching next 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. “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 nine-game unbeaten streak — heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale at Chicago. This if from a team that was 2-7-5 before his MLS debut.

(SD-Agencies)