Wayne Rooney has been confirmed as Derby County’s permanent captain for the second half of the 2019-02 season, Rams manager Phillip Cocu announced after their 2-1 win over Barnsley on Thursday evening.
The 34-year-old made his debut for the East Midland clubs and was awarded the captain’s armband ahead of the game. Rooney provided the assist for Jack Marriott’s opening goal shortly before half-time and then provided an exquisite pass in the build up to their second goal early in the second half.
Cocu deployed the England national team’s record goalscorer in a central midfield role in a 4-4-2 formation, alongside teenagers Jason Knight and Max Bird.
Derby narrowly hung onto the three points as the Dutch manager’s side sat very deep for the final 10 minutes, encouraging pressure from the visitors, who had entered their trip to Pride Park on a five-game unbeaten run.
Speaking to RamsTV in a post-match interview, Phillip Cocu confirmed the club’s new captain:
“Wayne Rooney is our captain.
“If we have a player among us who was captain of the national team with such a career and experience and leadership, I think it makes sense for everybody that he will be the captain of Derby County.”
Wayne Rooney becomes the fourth player to be named captain by Derby County this season.
Former centre-back Richard Keogh had started the season as the Rams’ captain before his season ended in a car crash in September and was subsequently released.
Tom Huddlestone was named as his replacement captain, but was stripped of it before their next game. Since then, Curtis Davies had been the club’s captain.
