Carl Robinson Returns to MLS as Assistant Coach at DC United

Carl Robinson is back in Major League Soccer as Wayne Rooney’s Assistant Coach at Eastern Conference franchise DC United.

The 46-year-old Football Careers client is settling into his new role in a league he knows well after bossing Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps for four years from 2014 to 2018.

Welshman Carl is relishing his return and being an integral part of Manchester United and England legend Rooney’s quest to put the Washington club back on the map after they finished bottom of their division last time out. Robinson said:

“I’m thankful for the chance to develop, learn and grow here. I’m proud to join DC United and be a part of the coaching staff for such a historic MLS club. I’m excited about the project that’s being led by Wayne Rooney and I believe that the team can be successful this season.

“I want to thank the ownership and Wayne for this opportunity and I look forward to getting started.”

Robinson was in the dugout on Saturday 18th March as United were edged 3-2 by New York City FC at Yankee Stadium as the expanded MLS gets off to a thrilling start.

DC currently sit 11th in the 15-club Eastern Conference but there is an air of optimism that Rooney, Robinson, and Carl’s fellow FC client Pete Shuttleworth (who is also on the coaching staff) can help to bring the glory days back to the soccer side of America’s capital city.

Former Derby County boss Rooney knows what he has in Robinson and he stressed:

“Carl is an experienced MLS coach who has a great understanding of the league, both as a player and coach. He’s already added a lot of value to the coaching side and his knowledge and experience will be a great addition to our backroom staff.”

Carl has worked around the globe since launching his coaching career 11 years ago and was Head Coach of both Western Sydney Wanderers and the Newcastle Jets in Australia’s tough A-League.

He is highly respected in the MLS after cutting his teeth as a coach there under Scot Martin Rennie at Whitecaps. Carl was promoted to Head Coach in Vancouver and built a stellar reputation with the Caps, reaching the playoffs three times in four years and competing in the CONCACAF Champions League during his 199 matches at the helm.

Robinson also played a key role in the rise of Canada’s generational talent Alphonso Davies, who has gone on to become a Champions League winner at Bayern Munich. He gave Phonzie his MLS and pro debut at the age of just 15 and worked closely with Davies until he was sold to the Bundesliga giants for what was then an MLS record fee of $22 million.

As a player, central midfielder Carl — capped 52 times for Wales — won the English Championship with both Sunderland and Portsmouth and is the only man to grasp the Canadian Championship as both a player and a coach.

Carl also starred for the likes of Wolves and Norwich City before moving to the MLS with Toronto FC in 2007. He was later traded to the New York Red Bulls where he transitioned into a player-coach role and this new chapter of his football life began.

Rooney, Robinson, and Shuttleworth now face up to their next mission in Game Five of the new MLS season on Saturday 25th March as DC United host the New England Revolution at Audi Field.

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