<p> Wayne Rooney has been named Manchester United captain by new manager Louis van Gaal, the club announced.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 28-year-old England striker succeeds Nemanja Vidic after the Serbia defender left United at the end of last season to join Inter Milan.<br /><br />“For me the choice of captain is always very important,” said Van Gaal in a club statement issued after United’s 2-1 friendly win against Valencia at Old Trafford on Tuesday. “Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy,” the Dutchman explained. “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.”<br /><br />Rooney said: “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.”<br /></p>
<p> Wayne Rooney has been named Manchester United captain by new manager Louis van Gaal, the club announced.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 28-year-old England striker succeeds Nemanja Vidic after the Serbia defender left United at the end of last season to join Inter Milan.<br /><br />“For me the choice of captain is always very important,” said Van Gaal in a club statement issued after United’s 2-1 friendly win against Valencia at Old Trafford on Tuesday. “Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy,” the Dutchman explained. “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.”<br /><br />Rooney said: “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.”<br /></p>