Wayne Rooney’s disaster: Tom Brady’s England team fires him after 15 games and his coaching career doesn’t take off

October 2023. Wayne Rooney announced as Birmingham managerone of the teams with the greatest tradition in England aiming to regain its place in the premier league. At that time she was in sixth place in Second Divisionso landing the former national team captain as coach added to the fact that the NFL legend Tom Brady he joined as a minority shareholder of the group led by the American entrepreneur Tom Wagner It is a positive move for the club to try to return to the top flight, where they were last in the 2010/11 season.

January 2024. Wayne Rooney sacked as Birmingham manager, just 15 games later and with just two wins under his belt. On Monday, the first day of the year, his team was beaten 3-0 by leeds and their fans left the away section of the Ellan Road stadium shouting: “Wayne Rooney leaves the club”. “Despite their best efforts, the results have not met the expectations we had from the beginning. Therefore, the board believes that a change in management is in the best interests.”was the club’s statement.

To understand this story a little better it is not necessary to go too far back in time. The club founded in 1875 (under the name of Alliance for small health) had financial problems in recent years, until Tom Wagner purchased it last July. Since then, they have received financial support from Tom Brady AND Gary CookCurrent Birmingham fan CEO of the Saudi Professional Leaguedrawn from stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. This ensured the club’s existence and avoided points penalties..

One of his first decisions was the controversial arrival of Rooney. Birmingham were sixth in the Championship, 10 points from the direct promotion zone, but the Board of Directors decided to sack John Eustacewho had taken over in July 2022 and guided the team to its best season since 2016, avoiding relegation despite off-field uncertainty over the club’s ownership.

“It is essential that the Board of Directors and football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the football club”was the statement that supported Eustace’s departure, 43 years old, later score the last two games in command of the team (3-1 against Huddersfield and 4-1 against West Bromwich), with whom he had previously suffered a defeat four consecutive defeats (three defeats and one draw).

It took two days for the Wagner-led business group to announce its new manager. Era Wayne Rooneywho had just ended his relationship four days ago with the DC United, who failed to qualify for the MLS Playoffs, just like Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. The club, now, it had two sporting icons in its ranks.

Rooney was intrigued by working with Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion who is listed as a senior advisor and minority shareholder. “It’s phenomenal to have him at the club. He has a huge ambition to take this club far. You can see that he is completely involved in the growth of the club.”assured the former footballer.

It was, therefore, the opportunity for Rooney, winner of five Premier League titles and another Champions League title with Manchester United, to find his way back as a manager, who until now had had irregular transitions in the Derby County (English Second Division) and the one mentioned by the MLS team. They were, paradoxically, his last two clubs as a footballer.

With Ashley Cole (formerly Chelsea) e John O’Shea (formerly Manchester United) as assistants on his coaching staff, Rooney has struggled to get into a positive dynamic since making his debut on matchday 12. five games he had to wait to celebrate his first victory (against Sheffield Wednesday 2-1) and three more for the second and final match (1-0 against Cardiff as visitors) before the sending off. There were also four draws and nine defeats.

They went from sixth to twentieth place in the table, and from occupying a place in the Playoffs for their third promotion to the Premier League to being six units away from relegation to League One (Third Division). “Disastrous Time”it was cataloged by the British newspaper ‘The Sun’.

Upon confirmation of your departure, Rooney did not shy away from throwing darts at the management as if he were competing in the World Cup held at Alexandra Palace in London this week.

“I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham. Football is a business of results and I recognize they have not been at the level I wanted. However, time is the most precious commodity he has need “I became a coach and I don’t think 13 weeks was enough time to oversee the necessary changes. Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved with professional football, both as a player and as a coach, since I was 16.”wrote the former coach.

While he undoubtedly remains a big name in world football, his record on the substitutes’ bench suggests he would be a great bet for any potential club today. Unlike his previous goalscoring power, Wayne Rooney’s managerial career is not taking off.