Birmingham City’s under-21s finished eighth in their final Professional Development League campaign under Steve Spooner
14:55, 22 May 2025Updated 14:58, 22 May 2025
Steve Spooner has departed Birmingham City(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
Birmingham City have confirmed Steve Spooner has left the club after 19 years of service in the club’s academy.
Spooner has overseen the under-21s in recent years after guiding the under-18s to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2018. Blues’ under-21s won the Professional Development League title in 2021 and Spooner led them to the final last year.
The vastly experienced coach has also had a couple of stints in interim charge of the first team, most recently in January 2024 following the sacking of Wayne Rooney. Spooner took charge of an FA Cup tie at Hull City before Tony Mowbray was appointed manager.
Jude and Jobe Bellingham, Jordan James, Nathan Redmond, Jack Butland and Demarai Gray are among those who have come through the club’s ranks and played under Spooner.
Spooner told Blues’ website: “After 49 unforgettable years in football the time has come for me to step away from a profession that has been so good to me.
“This has been somewhat of a difficult decision, as it has been my life, but I feel I owe this to my family who have displayed unswerving support and patience in what is a very demanding profession.
“I have been very fortunate to work with some very good people in my time at the club, we have been through some good and bad times but the united front that has been displayed by all the staff is what has pulled us through.
“The future of the football club looks so promising, and I am genuinely pleased for all those loyal Bluenoses. It is in excellent hands, and I am excited to watch its continued success from the sidelines. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone for their support throughout the years.
“Once an adopted Bluenose, always a Bluenose. Keep Right On.”
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