Wayne Rooney sacked by Birmingham City after just 15 games as manager
The former England and Manchester United star, Wayne Rooney, has been sacked as manager of Birmingham City Football Club after a disappointing tenure. Despite high hopes for success, Rooney’s appointment in October led to a downfall in the club’s performance, with Birmingham City plummeting to 20th place in the league table.
Rooney only managed to secure two victories out of his 15 games in charge. The team suffered nine losses under his leadership, causing the club’s fans to turn against the 38-year-old manager. Following a dismal 3-0 defeat to Leeds United on New Year’s Day, Birmingham City supporters demanded his immediate dismissal.
Birmingham City’s fans initially had high expectations for Rooney when he replaced John Eustace. The new ownership group, which includes former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, hailed Rooney’s appointment as a statement move. They believed Rooney’s experience as a player and his coaching stints at Derby County and DC United would elevate the club’s standing and put them in contention for Premier League promotion.
However, Eustace had a strong bond with the fans, and Rooney failed to win them over during his short time in charge. The team’s decline continued, resulting in his dismissal after just 83 days as manager. Birmingham City now finds itself in a relegation battle.
Rooney expressed his frustration in a statement released shortly after his sacking was confirmed by Birmingham City. He cited a lack of time as a contributing factor, believing that the 13 weeks he had been given to implement necessary changes were insufficient.
I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady, and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club, Rooney said. Football is a results business, and I recognize they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires, and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.
Rooney also mentioned that it would take him some time to recover from this setback. Having been involved in professional football since the age of 16, he now plans to focus on spending time with his family before embarking on the next chapter of his managerial career.
Birmingham City officially confirmed Rooney’s departure in a statement, announcing the departure of first-team coach Carl Robinson as well. The board cited insufficient results as the reason for the change in management. The statement also emphasized the commitment of the club’s board and management to rebuild Birmingham City and fulfill the aspirations of its fans and community.
Birmingham’s CEO, Garry Cook, expressed disappointment at the outcome of Rooney’s tenure. Unfortunately, Wayne’s time with us did not go as planned, and we have decided to move in a different direction, Cook said. The search for a new manager is already underway, and updates will be provided to the supporters as soon as a successor is appointed.
Wayne Rooney’s stint as Birmingham City’s manager may not have yielded the desired results, but the club remains determined to turn its fortunes around. As they embark on the search for a new manager, Birmingham City’s board and management will continue their efforts to rebuild the club and bring it back to its former glory.
