London: Wayne Rooney has ended his playing career to become full-time coach at English Championship club Derby County.
The 35-year-old had been acting manager since the sacking of Philip Cocu in November, leading Derby to three wins and four draw in nine league games in charge. The club had taken six points from their first 11 games of the campaign under Cocu's guidance.
The decision to sign a two and a half year deal with the Championship side ends Rooney's playing career after 763 senior appearances for 4 different clubs, during which time he won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, three EFL Cups, a Champions League, a Europa League and became England's all time maximum goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances for his country. Agencies