‘Hired Wayne Rooney & ended up in League One’ – Tom Brady & Birmingham’s American board ‘thought they knew everything about football’ when making costly mistake with Man Utd legend

Back in October 2023, the Blues – with NFL legend Brady investing in the club alongside chairman Tom Wagner – decided to make a change in their dugout. A big name was sought, to match their sizeable ambition, and the reins were handed to Manchester United and England legend Rooney.

He lasted just 15 games, across 83 days, at the helm before being unceremoniously sacked. The demise that he started ultimately cost Birmingham their Championship standing, with the West Midlands-based outfit now competing with the likes of Wrexham in League One.

Keith Wyness, a former Premier League CEO at Everton, has told Football Insider of why the Blues got things very wrong: “Birmingham is a great example of owners who thought they knew everything about football, hired Wayne Rooney and ended up in League One. That’s a serious example of what can go wrong when you act too quickly. They made some big mistakes. American owners can do that, but any nationality can do that – there have been terrible British owners as well. It’s a desire for success, but the way to that in football isn’t always so quick.”

Birmingham have spent big in their bid to bounce back into the second tier – seeing off Wrexham in their first ‘Hollywood derby’ of the season – while Rooney is still working in the Championship after taking on another big challenge at Plymouth. Next up for the Blues is a home clash with Peterborough on Saturday.