Wayne Rooney's Manchester United timeline

#12 Named captain of Manchester United (August 12, 2014)

Louis Van Gaal chose Rooney as United’s new captain following Nemanja Vidic’s exit

The 2013/14 season proved to be a horrendous one for United as they finished a disappointing seventh in the Premier League with David Moyes being sacked as manager of the side with four games left to play.

There was a change in personnel amongst the players as well with senior pros like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs calling time on their playing career at Old Trafford.

Dutchman Louis Van Gaal was named as the new manager and while many felt that with he would name Robin Van Persie as the new club captain considering their past association while he was manager of the Dutch national side, the armband was handed to Wayne Rooney with Van Gaal hailing the Englishman’s dedication and professionalism and the inspiration he provides to the club’s youngsters as a long-serving member of the squad.

Rooney described it as a huge honour and it was a role which always seemed destined to happen considering the influence he had in the dressing room as a true leader.