'After 2 games' - Wayne Rooney revealed how he warned Birmingham owners before relegation

'After 2 games' - Wayne Rooney revealed how he warned Birmingham owners before relegation

Hassan Abdulsalam 19:00 - 10.05.2025

Rooney has revealed that Birmingham board were stubborn and refused to him which led to their downfall.

Wayne Rooney has claimed that within his first two games in charge that the Birmingham City squad was ill-equipped to execute the style of football mandated by the club's hierarchy.

Speaking candidly on The Overlap Fan Debate, the former Manchester United and England star revealed his concerns were dismissed by the Birmingham board, who insisted he persist with a specific playing philosophy.

According to Rooney, that decision directly contributed to the team's subsequent dismal run of form, ultimately leading to his dismissal at the beginning of January.

Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney as a pundit on Prime Video's Champions League program (Credit: Imago) Wayne Rooney as a pundit on Prime Video's Champions League program (Credit: Imago)

Rooney, visibly frustrated by his experience at St. Andrew's, suggested that the club's ownership, which includes NFL legend Tom Brady, played a role in the directive.

"When I joined Birmingham, they brought me in and said this is how we want to play," Rooney explained on The Overlap.

He continued, "After two games I said to them the players can't do it. I wanted to adjust and adapt to get results. But the message I got was no, keep doing it, and then in January we'll get you in players who can - I got sacked on January 1st."

Rooney's account paints a picture of a manager whose professional judgment was overridden by the club's insistence on a particular playing style, regardless of the players' capabilities.

Wayne Rooney outlines conditions for his next managerial job after latest sacking
Wayne Rooney

His dismissal on New Year's Day came just as the January transfer window opened - the very window where he was promised reinforcements to suit the desired system.

Since his departure from Plymouth, Rooney has become a regular pundit on Sky Sports, Amazon Prime, and The Overlap, offering his insights on the game.

Tags: