Sports Wednesday, August 7, 2019 13 Rooney agrees to join Derby as player-coach in surprise switch

AFP London

Former England captain I am very excited about the is to leave opportunity that Derby Washington-based DC United County have provided me Marin Cilic reacts after scoring after agreeing a deal to become with. I am looking forward a point against Bradley Klahn of player-coach of English Cham- to joining Phillip Cocu, his the United States during Day 5 of pionship side Derby County. the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Que- The 33-year-old – the re- coaching staff and the bec, Canada on Tuesday. (AFP) cord goalscorer for both his first-team squad from the country and Manchester Unit- start of January. ed – signed an 18-month con- Cilic survives tract with the second-tier side, Wayne Rooney who under Rooney’s former ace onslaught England teammate Frank Lam- situation of being so far away pard reached the play-off final from his family, we have ac- from qualifier last season. cepted that this is the best de- Derby said in a statement cision for all parties,” they told the club were “delighted to the Derby website. in Montreal announce that England’s re- “Wayne is an exceptional cord goalscorer Wayne Roon- leader and one of the most AFP ey will join the club from Jan- iconic players to play the game, Montreal uary 2020”. so we look forward to his con- Derby’s interest in the for- tinued contributions to the Two-time quarter-finalist mer Manchester United star team this season.” Marin Cilic survived 19 aces emerged shortly before the Derby chairman Mel Mor- from qualifier Bradley Klahn side, under new boss Phillip ris said Rooney’s arrival would on Tuesday to reach the sec- Cocu, opened their Champion- boost the profile of the club. ond round of the ATP Montreal ship campaign with a 2-1 victo- “To have Wayne Rooney as Masters, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7). ry at Huddersfield on Monday. a player, and equally as an as- Cilic, seeded 14th, has suf- Reports suggested Roon- Derby County manager Phillip Cocu and Wayne Rooney pose during the press conference to introduce the former Manchester United legend at piring coach, is incredible and I fered through an indifferent ey’s wife Coleen was homesick Pride Park, Derby in Britain on Tuesday. (Reuters) can only imagine the buzz this season due partly to injury, but and had returned to Britain will generate amongst our sup- could be back in his element on with their children. ey told the Derby website. management after Lampard, last season. ers from the first team right porters at home and interna- hardcourt after winning the US Rooney, who is working “I am looking forward who is now in charge at Chel- Rooney thanked DC United through to the youngsters in tionally,” he said. Open in 2014. towards securing his coaching to joining Phillip Cocu, his sea, Rangers boss Steven Ger- and the club’s fans, saying he the academy,” he said. Derby have signed a lucra- He earned his first victory in qualifications, will work under coaching staff and the first- rard and Macclesfield manager would “give my all in support of Steve Kaplan and Jason tive new shirt sponsorship deal the Francophone city since 2011 former PSV boss team squad from the start of Sol Campbell. our push for the play-offs”. Levien, co-chairmen of DC on the back of Rooney’s sign- at the tournament which alter- Cocu at Pride Park. January. Gary Neville flopped in a Cocu said Rooney’s experi- United, praised Rooney for his ing, with the income helping to nates annually with Toronto. He was pictured at “I am sure I can make a big short stint with Valencia, his ence would be a huge boost to contribution to the franchise pay for his reported £100,000 The Croatian never faced Heathrow Airport on Tues- contribution and can’t wait to brother Phil is manager of the club as they seek to return -- he has scored 23 times in 43 per-week wages. a break point in his 98-minute day as he arrived back from meet everyone, especially the the England Women’s team to the Premier League for the appearances since he joined Rooney’s return to Eng- win but was able to produce the United States. supporters.” and John Terry is assistant first time since 2008. from Everton on a three-year land comes in the twilight of only two aces from his usually “I am very excited about the Rooney is the eighth mem- to Dean Smith at Aston Villa, “The inspiration and mo- contract last year. a glittering career that estab- reliable serve. opportunity that Derby County ber of England’s Euro 2004 while Paul Scholes had a brief, tivation this can generate is “After speaking to Wayne lished him as an icon for club The straight-sets success have provided me with,” Roon- squad to go into coaching or ill-fated spell as Oldham boss massive for all of our play- and understanding his difficult and country. was welcome for Cilic, who im- proved to 14-11 in 2019. “I didn’t know what to ex- pect,” he said after the first-time meeting with big-serving Klahn. Ferrari need a break, says former technical director Brawn Serie A launch campaign “I’m glad I played the first set really well. In the second he Reuters “Spa and Monza might be against beoutQ started to play better and was LONDON better for us, but in the end our serving big bombs; it got a lot ambition is to really force things tougher. I’m glad we didn’t go Sebastian Vettel will have to happen, be in control of the into a third set because then you gone a year without a win by race,” he said after Sunday’s never know... I’m happy with the time Formula One regroups Hungarian Grand Prix. this win.” in Belgium at the end of the “Where we are now, we’re Cilic, runner-up in 2017 month, and the Ferrari driver quite far away from that.” at Wimbledon and finalist at will have plenty to chew on over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen the 2018 Australian Open, was the August break. has scored more points from his bothered in the first part of the The German, a four-times last two races than Vettel in four season by a right knee injury. world champion, last won at and is now 25 clear. The seed had to fight his Spa-Francorchamps on Aug. 26 On Sunday, the battle was way to victory in the second-set last year, and this year’s race is between Mercedes and Red tiebreaker after losing a 3-0 lead on Sept 1. Bull, with Vettel finishing more in the decider. Vettel has had longer German driver Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari prepares for the start of the than a minute behind Hamil- Cilic also annulled a Klahn droughts with Ferrari -- the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) ton, who celebrated his eighth set point which would have Italian team failed to win a race win in 12. forced a deciding set. in 2016 -- but this year has been fourth overall. Brawn said a win for Ferrari Ferrari know they need to Australian Alex de Minaur particularly disappointing be- “The summer break has was important more as a morale improve through the corners to fell 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to tournament cause they looked so quick in probably come at just the right booster than to press any cham- make the most of their straight Serie A (the Italian football league) has launched a media cam- debutant Dan Evans, send- testing. Instead of challenging time because I’m well aware of pionship aspirations at this line speed. But Vettel, who has paign against piracy ahead of the new league season. Clubs from ing the British winner into a for a first title of any sort in 11 how the pressure can build on stage. The next two high-speed made some costly errors, ad- across the league have posted messages on Social Media to second-round challenge against years, Ferrari have yet to tri- Ferrari when things aren’t go- races at Spa and Monza, Fer- mitted he had also struggled to spread the message that piracy of Serie A matches is killing the defending champion and ATP umph in 2019 and go into the ing well,” said former Ferrari rari’s home circuit with its pas- get on top of the car. game. This comes as beoutQ, a platform based in Saudi Arabia number two Rafael Nadal. second half of the season at risk technical director Ross Brawn, sionate fans, could see a change “It will be a busy break for has stolen major sporting rights from MENA broadcasting holders De Minaur lost serve twice of being overtaken by Red Bull. now Formula One’s managing of fortunes with the car better us. I don’t think anyone’s mind beIN Media Group. Clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina, SS and was unable to profit from Vettel, the highest-placed director for motorsport. suited aerodynamically to the can rest in the two weeks, so Lazio, AS Roma and all shared the message on their 10 aces against his 53rd-ranked Ferrari driver, is 94 points be- “It won’t do any harm to long, fast straights. maybe we come up with some social media channels. Recently FIFA, UEFA, CAF and AFC also opponent who emerged from hind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamil- take a breather and recharge Vettel knows, however, that good ideas for the second half,” condemned the piracy act by beoutQ. qualifying rounds. ton in the championship and the batteries,” added the Briton. more is needed. he suggested. Top two ready for new Premier League title tussle

senal and a wounded Manches- could win the league, includ- Tottenham, meanwhile, Man City hold ter United will all have top-four ing United, who have gone big will begin their first full sea- all the cards but ambitions, at least. on Maguire. son in their new stadium, with In total, more than 1 billion But one thing the Span- manager Manuel Pochettino Liverpool, buoyed pounds has exchanged hands iard does know is that it is desperate for his side to push by their Champions in the transfer window, which likely to be close. on after their run to the Cham- closes on Thursday night. “The difference can be one pions League final. Striker Har- League win, are Manchester United will point ahead, one penalty ahead, ry Kane believes Tottenham hope the 80 million pounds that is the difference, it’s min- can challenge for the title. hungrier than ever they paid Leicester for de- ute,” he said. “Of course people will look as the new season fender Harry Maguire will After a tough pre-season, at Man City and Liverpool af- have the same kind of impact when many of his team came ter the seasons they had to go begins on Friday as Liverpool’s purchase of back late after summer com- and do that again but as we Virgil van Dijk. mitments, Klopp was delight- know in the Premier League DPA Arsenal also splashed the ed with Liverpool’s display at it’s not always that easy,” London cash, spending 72 million Wembley on Sunday. That ef- Kane told reporters. pounds to buy Nicolas Pepe fort bodes well for their hopes “No one knows until past Less than three months after from Lille while Chelsea lost of winning a first top-flight title Christmas and we’ll go from Manchester City put the seal on Eden Hazard and Tottenham since 1990. there. Liverpool and City are their second straight Premier paid out 54 million pounds for “The character of the going to want to do it again and League title, the race for glory Tangoy Ndembele from Lyon. team is still incredibly good,” it’s down to us, and the rest of begins again this weekend. But for all the spending Klopp said. the teams, to try to win more City, whose 98-point total power of the others - including Liverpool and Manchester City players in action during the FA Community Shield match at the Wembley “We had a difficult pre-sea- games than we did last year.” was one better than Liverpool, Aston Villa, who have forked Stadium in London, recently. (EPA-EFE) son but the boys did what they Villa, Norwich and Shef- are the bookmakers’ favourites out more than 120 million had to do and were affected by field United will all have to become the first side since pounds for 12 players - it is City media anticipating a two-horse transfer window. injury absences. it. We played football games survival uppermost in their Manchester United in 2009 to and Liverpool who look likely to race again. Manager Juergen Klopp Importantly, though, nei- against really good teams and minds; others, especially win for a third straight year. fight it out once more. City spent 63 million made only a couple of minor ther side have lost any of their that didn’t feel too good. It was City and Liverpool, will Liverpool, buoyed by their Their Community Shield pounds on Rodri moves but will consider Rhian star names and seemingly none very important we all gave our- dream of glory. Champions League victory in encounter, won on penalties by but have lost captain Vincent Brewster and Alex Oxlade- of the hunger. selves and our supporters a sign Liverpool kick things off June, will try to go one better City but dominated in the sec- Kompany while Liverpool Chamberlain as good as new City manager Pep Guar- of the performance (against on Friday evening at home to while Tottenham, Chelsea, Ar- ond half by Liverpool, had UK kept their powder dry in this signings after their long-term diola said any of six teams City). Now let’s carry on.” Norwich.