Title: Wayne Rooney Appointed as Manager of Birmingham City
Date: October 11, 2023
Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United legend and former D.C. United head coach, is set to return to management in England after being appointed as the manager of Championship side Birmingham City. The club announced the three-and-a-half-year appointment on Wednesday.
Rooney’s move to Birmingham City comes after his departure from D.C. United, as his team failed to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs for the second consecutive season. The English football icon will now join forces with NFL legend Tom Brady, who became a minority owner and advisory board chair at Birmingham City in August.
Joining Rooney’s coaching staff are his former teammates Ashley Cole, whom he played with at England, and John O’Shea, with whom he shared his time at Manchester United. The addition of these experienced individuals is expected to enhance the team’s coaching capabilities.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Rooney stated, “I have been building my managerial career, putting myself in challenging environments, to get me ready for this opportunity. It’s a project that gives me a sense of purpose, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Rooney takes over from John Eustace, whose 15-month spell as manager of Birmingham City came to an end on Monday. Under Eustace’s guidance, the team had a solid start to the season, securing the sixth position in the Championship with five wins from their first 11 games.
Eustace navigated the team through trying circumstances including failed takeover bids and potential points deduction due to a breach of EFL regulations. However, the co-owners of Birmingham City believe that Rooney’s “playing philosophy” will help the team progress further.
Birmingham City co-owner Tom Wagner expressed his confidence in Rooney, stating, “Wayne is a born winner. With the support of his coaching staff, the club, and our supporters, he will take Blues forward on the next stage of our journey. His playing philosophy will help to realize the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.”
This is not Rooney’s first managerial role in the Championship, as he previously managed Derby County between January 2021 and June 2022. Despite facing a 21-point deduction in his first full season, Rooney guided the club from the bottom of the table to safety, recording an impressive 55 points.
Following his stint at Derby County, Rooney took charge of D.C. United in July 2022, but was unable to propel the team to a high finish in his first season. However, in 2023, he led the club to a ninth-place finish, showing signs of improvement.
Rooney’s appointment at Birmingham City signals another step in his coaching career, with the club expressing their full support for him and his staff.
As United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals, Rooney’s return to English football as a manager has stirred excitement among fans, who are eager to see him bring his winning mentality to Birmingham City and lead them to success in the Championship.