Wayne Rooney has been named Birmingham City’s new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Former Manchester United and England striker Rooney left his role as head coach of DC United by mutual consent on Sunday after they missed out on the MLS Cup play-offs.
Birmingham then began talks with the 37-year-old just hours after sacking boss John Eustace on Monday despite the club sitting sixth in the Championship following back-to-back wins.
Rooney will be supported by his former England team-mate Ashley Cole, who is the current England U21s assistant, John O’Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland men’s national team, and Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth, who both worked under him at DC United. Maik Taylor will remain as goalkeeper coach.
Cole and O’Shea will retain their coaching roles with their respective national sides.
Following his appointment, Rooney, who has also managed Derby County, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City Football Club at such an exciting time. It is very clear that they have a plan and are committed to realising their ambition for the club. We are fully aligned on what is expected.
Wayne Rooney became head coach at DC United in July 2022
“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.
“We have some exciting young players in the squad, and some who are still to break through into the first team, alongside a core of experienced senior professionals. 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.
“I’ve played at St. Andrew’s and Birmingham City fans were always loud and passionate about their team. It was a really difficult place to come as an opponent and now I get to experience what it is like to have them behind us.
“My job is to elevate the club to the next level and I can’t wait to get started. I know what the expectations are and our job is to deliver.”
‘A defining moment for Birmingham’
John Eustace was sacked by Birmingham after 15 months in charge
Eustace oversaw 21 wins in his 63 games in 15 months in charge, the last of which came on Friday night in the 3-1 victory over West Brom in a West Midlands derby.
A Birmingham statement explained Eustace’s sacking by saying: “it is essential that the board of directors and the football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the entire football club”.
After securing Rooney as their new manager, chief executive Garry Cook added: “We are incredibly excited by Wayne’s arrival. When the opportunity presents itself to appoint a manager who shares your ambition and is both a student and a great of the game, then you act. This is what we have done.
“We are confident that his appointment, supported by his hand-picked coaching staff, will culminate in a young, attack-minded team that will excite our fans.
“The timing of the appointment will allow Wayne to evaluate the playing staff and work with Craig Gardner on the squad’s recruitment needs ahead of the January and summer transfer windows. This is a defining moment for the football club.”
Rooney’s first six fixtures:
October 21: Middlesbrough vs Birmingham – kick-off 3pm
October 25: Birmingham vs Hull – kick-off 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports Football Red Button
October 28: Southampton vs Birmingham – kick-off 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports Football
November 4: Birmingham vs Ipswich – kick-off 3pm
November 11: Sunderland vs Birmingham – kick-off 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports Football
November 25: Birmingham vs Sheffield Wednesday – kick-off 3pm
Rooney still has it all to prove in management
Wayne Rooney’s record at Derby County
Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:
“Wayne Rooney gained plenty of plaudits for his work at Derby County. In his first managerial role he was right up against it, dealing with administration, a 21-point deduction, and a squad hardly worthy of the Championship made up of academy graduates and free transfers.
“The Derby fans were won over by his commitment, open communication and battling style, and it’s worth noting that they picked up enough points in his one full campaign in charge to finish 17th. To keep them in the hunt for safety until mid-April was near enough a miraculous effort.
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Birmingham City’s decision to part company with John Eustace amid a link with Wayne Rooney was criticised by both Jason Burt of The Telegraph and Mark Ogden from ESPN on Back Pages Tonight
“It is one thing, however, to stand up and out when you are facing every type of adversity football can throw at you, it is another altogether to take a club moving in the right direction at last further up the Championship tree.
“And speaking of trees, Rooney hardly pulled any of them up in his spell at DC United. Were he not the name he is, it is hard to imagine anything on his managerial CV being enough to convince the new Birmingham owners that he has earned the chance to replace John Eustace at St Andrew’s.
“The 37-year-old still has plenty to prove.”
Shared ambition makes Rooney and Birmingham the perfect pairing
Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:
“Wayne Rooney and Birmingham City are the perfect pairing right now. Both at a crucial crossroads, and each having big ambitions for the future.
“The sacking of John Eustace has been explained by Birmingham’s chief executive, Garry Cook, who says the previous head coach was “misaligned” with the club’s leadership team, on a number of key points.
“Cook is trying to keep the Birmingham support on-side, knowing the sacking is unpopular with a significant proportion of them, who don’t see Rooney – who has only taken charge of struggling Derby County so far in England – as a managerial upgrade.
“After all, under Eustace, Birmingham reached sixth in the Championship, and have taken six points and scored seven goals in their last two Championship matches. A harsh sacking, for sure.
“But when you realise that the plan to recruit Rooney stretches back several weeks – when Blues took only one point from three matches against Preston, QPR and Norwich – Birmingham’s bosses think it is easier to justify and explain their decision.
“It was inevitable. Eustace knew it. New club owners like to bring in their own people in key positions.
“And when you look at the mission statement of owner Tom Wagner when his Knighthead Capital Management group bought Birmingham three months ago, the recruitment of Rooney should come as no surprise.”
Read Rob Dorsett’s full analysis of why Rooney is the perfect fit for Birmingham