Rooney Coaching Deal: Rooney will be a player-coach at Derby

Wayne Rooney will be a player-coach at Derby

Wayne Rooney's Derby deal to begin in January

Wayne Rooney has arrived at Derby's training ground before his move to Pride Park, with his deal at the Championship club due to begin in Jan, Sky Sports News understands.

The 33-year-old is set to join the Rams as a player-coach just over a year after departing English soccer to join MLS facet DC United.

Rooney won't be part of derby till next year, however, so as to complete DC's 2019 season, which is due to end no later than November.

Rooney, who is the record goalscorer for both England and Manchester United, has 2 years remaining on his DC deal.

However, he has spoken antecedently of his need to maneuver into management once his playing career is over, and he's believed to see a move to derby as a player-coach as the ideal beginning on that road.

Rooney is known to have enjoyed working under Louis van Gaal at United, and is understood to see Phillip Cocu as a manager that operates in a similar manner.

Cocu worked under Van Gaal on 2 separate occasions during his time as a Barcelona player between 1998 and 2004.