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Former England player Wayne Rooney and NFL sportsperson Tom Brady’s reported controversy has taken a new turn. Rooney, who managed Birmingham for just 83 days between October 2023 and January 2024, was reportedly sacked after a dismal run of two wins in 15 matches, with the club sliding to 20th in the EFL Championship and eventually relegated to League One. Brady, a minority owner of Birmingham City since August 2023, appeared to express concerns about Rooney’s work ethic in the Amazon Prime documentary Built in Birmingham: Brady and The Blues.
Ex- Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has hit back at NFL icon Tom Brady, calling the criticism of his work ethic during the tenure as Birmingham City head coach “very unfair”. Brady made remarks about Wayne Rooney’s work ethic, stating, “I’m a little worried about our head coach’s work ethic. I mean, I don’t know. I don’t have great instincts on that.” In a podcast with BBC Sport, recollecting on the feud, Rooney said, “I think it was a very unfair comment.” He further added, “When I went into Birmingham, they were in a mess, really. The players weren’t really the players who could take the club forward.”
Tom Brady didn't understand football that well at the time: Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney also remarked on the podcast about how football is different from the NFL and claimed that Tom Brady failed to understand that. “Tom came in once, which was the day before a game where the day is a little bit lighter anyway, and I don’t think he really understood football that well at the time. Maybe he does now,” said Rooney. He further added, “Football is not NFL. NFL works for three months a year. Players do need rest as well, so I think he’s very unfair, the way he’s come out and portrayed that.”
Wayne Rooney’s appointment at Birmingham followed the reportedly controversial sacking of John Eustace, who had the club in sixth place in the Championship. It is claimed that the decision was backed by Brady and American owners Knighthead Capital Management, aimed to introduce a more attacking, modern style of play, but it backfired spectacularly.
Rooney’s record of two wins, four draws, and nine losses yielded a points-per-game average of 0.67, one of the worst in the club’s recent history. Despite his disappointment, Rooney expressed respect for Brady’s achievements, acknowledging, “I respect Tom Brady massively. He’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest athlete of all time.”
