Rooney named new United captain
- adamhigginsuk
- Aug 13, 2014
- 2 min read
Committed: Rooney signed a new four-year contract back in February, keeping him at United until 2019 (Picture from Sky Sports)
MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal has named Wayne Rooney as the club's captain ahead of the 2014-15 season.
The 28-year-old England striker has been selected to wear the armband after the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra this summer.
The decision was announced after Rooney captained United to a 2-1 win over Valencia in their final pre-season game on Tuesday night.
Midfielder Darren Fletcher, who has skippered his country Scotland in recent years, will be the vice-captain.
Rooney told the club's official website: "It is a huge honour for me - and for my family - to be named captain of this great club. It is a role I will perform with great pride.
"Team spirit has always been very high in our dressing room and I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me.
"I look forward to leading the team out on Saturday at our first match of the new season."
Robin van Persie was widely expected to be given the captain's role after leading Holland under van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
But the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach has instead opted for Rooney, who is also the frontrunner to succeed the retired Steven Gerrard as England captain.
"For me it's always very important the choice of captain. Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does," van Gaal, 62, added.
"I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy.
"He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role."
Rooney follows the likes of former United team-mates Gary Neville and Roy Keane in fulfilling the prestigious role at the Old Trafford club.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Fletcher as deputy skipper comes after his return to the first-team in December from a chronic bowel disease which sidelined him for 18 months.
"It's a very proud moment for me and my family," Fletcher, 32, said. "Wayne and I have always worked well together and we will continue to work closely together in our new roles. I would like to thank the manager for putting his trust in me."
Van Gaal, who used United's warm-up games in pre-season to trial different captains, described Fletcher as "a natural leader".
"Darren is a very experienced player and a very popular member of the dressing room, I know he will work well alongside Wayne," he said.
Last updated: 13 August 2014 09:34am
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