Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United legend, has finally addressed Tom Brady’s remarks about his work ethic during his brief and troubled 83-day tenure as the manager of Birmingham City. It’s clear that Rooney isn’t taking Brady’s comments lightly—unlike some of his training sessions in Birmingham, if we’re to believe Brady’s account!
Rooney’s Challenges at Birmingham City
Rooney’s time at St Andrew’s was far from successful, with his record showing only two wins in 15 matches before his dismissal in January 2024. In the recent documentary ‘Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues,’ NFL superstar Tom Brady expressed his concerns after witnessing one of Rooney’s training sessions, 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.”
Brady, who became a minority stakeholder at Birmingham two months before Rooney’s appointment, provided further context in an interview with Troy Deeney. He praised Rooney’s achievements but also shared his high expectations for leadership, saying, “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Wayne… At the same time, I have very high expectations for what leadership looks like.”
Rooney Responds to Criticism
In his response on ‘The Wayne Rooney Show’ on BBC Sport, Rooney questioned Brady’s understanding of football. “I think it was a very unfair comment. When I went into Birmingham, they were in a mess, really. The players weren’t really players who could take the club forward,” he argued.
Rooney also noted that Brady’s judgment was based on a limited perspective: “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.” He emphasized the crucial differences between American football and soccer: “Football is not NFL. NFL works for three months a year. Players need rest. So I think it was very unfair the way he came out and portrayed that.”
Despite his disappointment, Rooney maintained a sense of respect for Brady, acknowledging, “Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively. He is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, athletes of all time.”
Birmingham’s Recovery and Rooney’s Future
Since Rooney’s departure, Birmingham has proven its resilience under manager Chris Davies, bouncing back impressively to win promotion as champions after relegation to League One. Ahead of the new season, Brady stated that he desires players who “show up every day with a great winning competitive attitude.”
As for Rooney, his managerial career hasn’t gained much momentum post-Birmingham. His brief stint at Plymouth Argyle ended after just months, with the team sitting at the bottom of the table. Currently, he is exploring media roles while contemplating his next move in management. Given his track record, however, it seems that clubs might be more inclined to offer him a Netflix documentary rather than a coaching position.