Birmingham City fired Wayne Rooney after 83 days on the team. During Monday’s 3-0 loss to Leeds, fans went crazy for Rooney, who had lost nine of his fifteen games. Rooney was once captain of Manchester United and England.
Rooney’s departure marks an unpleasant conclusion to a catastrophic era for Birmingham and its aspirational American owners, Knighthead. The day Rooney was launched at St Andrew’s, Cook promised “no-fear football,” but now as they face the possibility of dropping down to League One, they must try to save their season. Birmingham is ahead of the drop zone by six points.
Birmingham’s chief executive, Garry Cook, described Rooney’s appointment in October as “a defining moment for the football club.” Since then, no Championship team has collected fewer points than Birmingham.
Supporters will be watching Cook closely after he spearheaded the decision to fire John Eustace, who had led the team to sixth place, and sign Rooney to a three-and-a-half-year contract. While serving as CEO of Manchester City, Cook made an unsuccessful attempt to recruit Rooney to the Saudi Pro League before moving to Birmingham.
The recent firings of Paul Heckingbottom and Steve Cooper by Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest, respectively, suggest that they are among the contenders to succeed Rooney, though it’s unclear if they would be persuaded.
We’re determined to take all necessary steps to ensure St. Andrew’s success,” Cook declared. “Wayne’s time with us did not go as planned, unfortunately, and we have decided to take a different course.”
Football is a results-driven sport, and I acknowledge that they haven’t performed to the level I would have liked. Rooney, who left his position as manager of DC United in the US to take a position at Birmingham, stated. But time is the most valuable resource a manager needs, and I don’t think 13 weeks was long enough to oversee the necessary improvements. It will take me some time to move past this setback, personally.
The 38-year-old, who has overseen Derby as well, intends to stay in his role as head coach. “As I get ready for the next opportunity in my career as a manager, I intend to spend some time with my family,” he stated.
Rooney’s reign was interspersed by challenging times. He acknowledged that some of his players had told him they didn’t feel comfortable playing his style of play after his first home game, a loss to Hull City.
Following the loss in Leeds, Rooney declared, “There’s no denying that we are in a difficult moment; we have to pull together to get through it.” In January, I hope we can strengthen the team.
Supporters of Birmingham may make analogies to the club’s misguided choice to fire Gary Rowett in December 2016 and replace him with Gianfranco Zola. Before being let go four months later, the Italian had won two of his 22 games.
The three coaches that Rooney brought to the team—John O’Shea, Ashley Cole, and Pete Shuttleworth—will continue to support Steve Spooner, the professional development coach, who has been named interim manager. But Carl Robinson, Rooney’s first-team coach, is no longer with the team.