Wayne Rooney: Birmingham City appoint ex-England captain as manager (2024)

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Wayne Rooney: Birmingham City appoint ex-England captain as manager (1)Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City have appointed Wayne Rooney as their new manager.

The 37-year-old former England captain has joined the Championship club on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Rooney succeeds Blues head coach John Eustace, who was sacked on Monday after 15 months in charge.

The ex-Everton and Manchester United striker's appointment is the first managerial change made by Blues' new American owners Shelby Companies Limited since they took over in July.

Rooney will be supported by his former England team-mate and current England Under-21 assistant Ashley Cole and his old United colleague John O'Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland men's national team.

Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth will also be part of Rooney's backroom staff after both assisted him at DC United.

It will be Rooney's third job in management following spells at the MLS club and Derby County and his first game will be at Middlesbrough on 21 October.

"Wayne is a born winner," Blues co-owner and chairman Tom Wagner said., external

"We believe, 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 realise the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.

"Wayne has been preparing for an opportunity like this since he embarked on his coaching education whilst still a player at Manchester United.

"He and his staff have the full support of the board and everyone at the football club."

'I can't wait to get started'

Rooney retired from playing and was appointed Derby boss in January 2021, following a spell in caretaker charge.

His time at Pride Park was marred by off-field troubles. He saved them from relegation from the Championship by a single point four months after taking on the role.

But during his first full season in charge in 2021-22, the Rams were given a 21-point deduction for being in administration and EFL breaches, alongside a transfer embargo. Derby were relegated to League One and Rooney left in June 2022 with the club still in administration.

He returns to England after just over a year with Washington-based DC United.

Image source, Getty Images

"I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City at such an exciting time," Rooney said.

"It is very clear that they have a plan and are committed to realising their ambition for the club."

Rooney added that he and Blues are "fully aligned" on what is expected of him and says the "challenging environments" he has put himself in has "got me ready for this opportunity".

"It's a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can't wait to get started," he said.

"I have a clear way that I want the team to play, and my coaching staff and I will work hard to implement it. We will create a winning culture here with an identity that gets Blues fans on their feet.

"My job is to elevate the club to the next level. I know what the expectations are and our job is to deliver."

Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook called Rooney's appointment a "defining moment" for the club before adding the new boss will work straight away with technical director Craig Gardner in evaluating the squad and identifying potential transfer targets in January.

What does Rooney inherit?

Birmingham are the longest serving occupants of the Championship, having completed the third of their short stays in the Premier League in 2011.

That was the same year they beat Arsenal at Wembley to win the League Cup, making them the last West Midlands side to lift a trophy.

This is their 13th successive attempt at getting back to the top flight but they have only once gone close to a return, their first season back in the second tier under Chris Hughton in 2011-12, when they were beaten by Ian Holloway's Blackpool in the play-offs.

Image source, Getty Images

Since then, despite the efforts of 10 different bosses, they have come closer to relegation than promotion - twice staying up on the final day, under Lee Clark in 2014 and Harry Redknapp in 2017.

But they are handily placed this season and sixth in the table having won three of their first four league games and then twice last week, to edge within two points of third-placed Preston.

Rooney must 'push club towards Premier League'

Analysis - BBC Radio WM's Birmingham City reporter Richard Wilford

For Wayne Rooney this will be a different challenge - the timing of the managerial change points to high expectations at St Andrew's and the sort of pressure he was more accustomed to during his playing career.

Blues have afforded him a large backroom staff, and the presence of former Wolves midfielder Carl Robinson and Rooney's Derby and DC United colleague Pete Shuttleworth is every bit as important as the bigger names Cole and O'Shea. They add some coaching and analytical experience to the mix.

He inherits a good squad, arguably the best the club has fielded since Chris Hughton was at the helm more than a decade ago.

Now Rooney must show that he can continue pushing the club forward towards a future in the Premier League.

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Wayne Rooney: Birmingham City appoint ex-England captain as manager (2024)

FAQs

Wayne Rooney: Birmingham City appoint ex-England captain as manager? ›

Birmingham City have appointed Wayne Rooney as their new manager. The 37-year-old former England captain has joined the Championship club on a three-and-a-half-year deal. Rooney succeeds Blues head coach John Eustace

John Eustace
John Mark Eustace (born 3 November 1979) is an English professional football coach and former player who is currently head coach of EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › John_Eustace
, who was sacked on Monday after 15 months in charge.

When did Wayne Rooney become manager of Birmingham City? ›

Video Unavailable

Birmingham City have sacked Wayne Rooney after just 15 games in charge. Rooney was appointed at St Andrew's on October 11 on a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club sixth in the Championship following back-to-back wins under sacked manager John Eustace.

Who did Rooney replace as Birmingham manager? ›

During 15 games in charge at Birmingham after controversially replacing the popular Eustace, Rooney managed only two wins.

When was Wayne Rooney captain of England? ›

Chronology
TenurePlayerReserve captains
2012–2014Steven GerrardFrank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole, Gareth Barry, James Harrison
2014–2017Wayne RooneyGary Cahill, Joe Hart, James Harrison, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane
2017–James HarrisonKieran Trippier, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
24 more rows

Have Plymouth Argyle appointed Wayne Rooney as their new manager? ›

Championship side Plymouth Argyle have appointed former England captain Wayne Rooney as their new head coach. The 38-year-old succeeds Ian Foster, who was sacked on 1 April after a poor run of results.

What happened to Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City? ›

Wayne Rooney has revealed his hurt at being sacked by Birmingham City after just 83 days in charge and criticised the lack of time afforded to him during his brief stay at St Andrew's.

How much did Wayne Rooney earn at Birmingham City? ›

How much does Wayne Rooney earn per minute/hour/day? Considering Rooney's £1.5m annual package at Birmingham, he will be earning approximately £29,000 a week and over £116,000 a month. It's a huge drop from the salary offered at DC United and Derby. His earnings now work out at around £173 an hour, or £4,143 a day.

Why did Birmingham sack their manager? ›

Rooney said in a statement that "football is a results business - and I recognise 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.

What table was Rooney on when he took over Birmingham? ›

Rooney was appointed Birmingham manager in October when the club were sixth in the table, but they have since fallen to 20th place, six points above the relegation zone. After Rooney took charge, the club lost nine of their 15 matches, winning only two.

How many managers has Birmingham City had? ›

There have been 44 full-time managers: the most recent appointee, Chris Davies, joined in June 2024. Bob McRoberts was appointed in 1911 as Birmingham's first manager whose role did not include secretarial duties.

What was Wayne Rooney's record at Birmingham? ›

Wayne Rooney's record and stats at Birmingham

In the 15 matches under Rooney's management, he secured wins in only two, while settling for four draws and facing defeat in the other nine. His victories came at home against relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday and away to playoff-chasing Cardiff City.

How old was Wayne Rooney when he played for England? ›

- In February 2003 against Australia, Rooney broke the record for youngest ever player to play for England which had stood since 1879, playing aged 17 years and 111 days.

Who was the youngest captain of England? ›

- Aged 22 years and 47 days when he first captained England in May 1963 against Czechoslovakia, Moore is England's youngest ever captain. At the time, he broke a record which had stood since the first ever international match in 1872, with Moore 87 days younger than Cuthbert Ottaway.

What are Plymouth Argyle fans called? ›

Argyle fans are often referred to as "Janners", the unofficial nickname used to describe residents of Plymouth.

Will Wayne Rooney live in Plymouth? ›

The team are currently in Spain on a pre-season training camp before Wayne returns back to his new home in Plymouth where he will be reunited with his family in the school holidays.

What does Wayne Rooney do now? ›

Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle.

Who was the boss of Birmingham before Rooney? ›

Chairman Tom Wagner admits Birmingham City were too quick to fire John Eustace before appointing Wayne Rooney. Eustace, now boss at Blackburn Rovers, was sacked in October and replaced by Rooney, who lasted just 15 games.

What happened to Birmingham City manager? ›

Tony Mowbray was appointed in January 2024, but six weeks later medical issues forced his temporary withdrawal from the role. Results were so poor under his assistant, Mark Venus, that the club rehired Gary Rowett as interim manager until the end of the season, but the team were unable to avoid relegation.

Who was Birmingham City manager in 2002? ›

Under the management of Steve Bruce, they finished in 13th position in the 20-team league. Birmingham entered the 2002–03 FA Cup at the third round and lost to Fulham in that round, and, having entered the League Cup in the second round, lost to Preston North End in the third.

Is Wayne Rooney going to manage Birmingham City? ›

Rooney was sacked by Birmingham City on Tuesday after just 83 days in charge and will now take an extended break from football to reflect and consider what he wants from his next role.

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