Wayne Rooney lasted just 83 days at Birmingham City after a disastrous tenure that saw him lose nine of his 15 games in charge – and now the Manchester United legend has pulled back the curtain on the troubled spell
Wayne Rooney has shed light on his ill-fated spell at Birmingham City by revealing he knew his players weren’t good enough to play his style of football just two games into his tenure. The Manchester United legend has endured a difficult start to life as a manager after being axed from two jobs in 2024.
Rooney was appointed as Birmingham’s new manager in October 2023 but his time at St Andrews was a disaster as he lasted just 83 days in charge following a run of nine defeats in 15 matches.
Later that summer he was given another chance at Plymouth, by he was then sacked after just nine months at Home Park and his future as a manager has been shrouded in doubt.
Rooney has already discussed his time at Plymouth but has now pulled back the curtain on his miserable spell at Birmingham.
He claimed the club’s ambitious American owners – headed by NFL legend Tom Brady – urged him to play attacking football on the front foot.
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However, he quickly became aware that wouldn’t be possible with the squad he inherited and even informed the board.
Rooney said he was assured he would be backed with new signings in the January window to meet their demands, only to be sacked as soon as the New Year arrived.
“When I joined Birmingham, they brought me in and said this is how we want to play,” Rooney said while speaking on the Overlap Fan Debate.
“After two games I said to them the players can’t do it. I wanted to adjust and adapt to get results. But the message I got was no, keep doing it, and then in January we’ll get you in players who can – I got sacked on January 1st.”
Rooney has since focused on being a pundit since his sackings, becoming a regular face on Match of the Day, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime but recently insisted he still plans on returning to management – for the right job.
He said in January: “I would like to go back in [to management]. But it would have to be the right club. Certainly the right club.”
“I think you always have that ego, don’t you? You always have that confidence you could go in and get the best out of a bad or difficult situation. Obviously, that wasn’t the case [at Plymouth]. I am going to enjoy time with my family, though.”
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