![\"Wayne](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Wayne-Rooney-BluesJPG.jpg\")
Wayne Rooney has addressed his time as Birmingham City manager(Image: YouTube\/@BBCSport)<\/p>\nFormer Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney has spoken about his time at the club and outlined the reasons that contributed to his disappointing stint at St Andrew’s<\/p>\n
13:50, 19 Aug 2025Updated 14:28, 19 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Wayne Rooney has addressed his time as Birmingham City manager(Image: YouTube\/@BBCSport)<\/p>\n
Wayne Rooney has claimed he felt Birmingham City<\/a> supporters never gave him time to prove himself at St Andrew\u2019s.<\/p>\n Rooney controversially replaced popular Blues boss John Eustace<\/a> in October 2023, with the club sitting sixth in the Championship at the time of his appointment. The ex-Manchester United and England legend won just two of his 15 games in charge before being sacked by Blues at the turn of the year, but not before being criticised by minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady.<\/p>\n Rooney\u2019s<\/a> tenure ultimately contributed to the club\u2019s relegation in 2024 before Blues began rebuilding in League One and swiftly returned to the Championship this season. However, the 39-year-old believes he was never given a chance to win over Blues fans, given the circumstances around his appointment.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly, with management first, it was something that I always wanted to go into,\u201d Rooney told BBC Sport<\/a>. \u201cI saw it as a challenge, I think I\u2019m someone who likes to be challenged as well and to take them head on.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I also understand that there\u2019s a chance that it might go wrong as well. I don\u2019t mind taking that risk and that challenge, where I know some former players might not do that and might wait for the perfect opportunity.”<\/p>\n On his time at Blues, Rooney said: \u201cThe Birmingham<\/a> one was\u2026 everything was wrong about that, to be honest. The timing of it. I think the fans didn\u2019t really give me an opportunity. We lost games, so I don\u2019t think anything was right about that. It felt right at the time but looking back, nothing was.\u201c<\/p>\n Before becoming Blues boss, Rooney had started his management career with Derby County, at a time when the club were dealing with serious financial issues, before heading stateside to coach his former club DC United.<\/p>\n Rooney began last season in charge of Plymouth Argyle but was sacked in December<\/a>, with his team four points from safety. However, the former Blues boss has defended his managerial record.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Derby County one, I was playing there and Phillip Cocu got sacked and we went into administration,\u201d Rooney said. \u201cIt was a really tough start to management but I felt we done a really good job there.<\/p>\n \u201cAt DC United, when I went out there, I thought we done a good job, even though it doesn\u2019t get portrayed that way. DC United had finished bottom the three seasons before I went and we got to within a point of the play-offs.\u201d<\/p>\n DC United had finished the previous season in last place overall before Rooney’s appointment, but not for three consecutive years. His side finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, three points off the play-offs.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cPlymouth, I think we were doing OK for what we had and the the decision was made. After that, I thought I don\u2019t know why I keep putting myself in these positions. Then looked into doing punditry, done bits of work in that and enjoyed it. I just felt the time was right to go into it, so here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n After agreeing a deal with the BBC<\/a>, Rooney, who recently responded to Brady\u2019s criticism<\/a>, is set to be a pundit on Match of the Day throughout the season. He made his debut on the iconic show at the weekend and will also be part of The Wayne Rooney Show podcast.<\/p>\n In terms of what fans can expect from Rooney as a pundit, he explained: \u201cI think I\u2019m quite fair and honest. I think that\u2019s the only way to be really. I always think, I say this if you\u2019re a player, a manager and now a pundit, I think the same values are in all three of them: the fans aren\u2019t stupid.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you expect me to sit there and sugarcoat things which I can see, other pundits can see and the fans can see, I don\u2019t think I should be doing it. Some people try and go over the top as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I can do is try and be fair with what I\u2019m seeing from a team point of view, a manager\u2019s point of view, individual player’s point of view, and try and give my honest opinion on that. I\u2019m sure some players and managers might get annoyed with that but I think you have to be honest with that and tell the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Wayne](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-1775149981.jpg\")
Wayne Rooney won two games in his 15-match spell as Birmingham City boss(Image: Graham Chadwick\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Wayne](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2212125475.jpg\")
Wayne Rooney has moved into punditry since his most recent coaching role(Image: Michael Regan – The FA\/The FA via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755016403_380_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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