The Wayne Rooney moment that left Birmingham City owner Tom Brady concerned | OneFootball

Tom Brady's comments about Wayne Rooney in 2025 sparked controversy

Birmingham City will be hoping to fight for promotion to the Premier League in 2026/27.

The Blues finished 10th in their first season back in the Championship, with Chris Davies’ side missing out on the play-offs by nine points.

Owners Knighthead Capital will be keen to see the team improve on that performance, with their sights set on a return to the top flight for a first time since 2011.

However, it hasn’t always been plain sailing for Tom Wagner, as well as his minority partner Tom Brady, who oversaw the club’s relegation to League One in 2024.

The decision to appoint Wayne Rooney as manager proved quite a disaster, with the Midlands outfit falling out of the play-offs and into the relegation battle in his brief time in charge.

And there was one notable moment from the docu-series Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues that highlighted the problems Brady had with the former England international.

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Brady is a minority investor at Birmingham, but Amazon followed the former NFL star during the 2023/24 campaign as part of a series into his role at the club.

And the most controversial moment to come from the show was during the period when Rooney was in charge of the first team squad.

During one episode, the American raised his concerns regarding the manager’s work ethic, calling it into question.

"I'm a little worried about our head coach's work ethic," said Brady, via the BBC.

"I mean, I don't know, I don't have great instincts on that."

Rooney took charge at St. Andrew’s in October 2023, taking over after John Eustace was dismissed.

When he joined the Championship side, the Blues were sixth in the table and in the mix for promotion to the Premier League.

However, it was still early in the campaign and the team ultimately dropped down the standings like a stone under the former Manchester United star.

Rooney oversaw 15 games during his time as head coach, but Birmingham won on only two occasions.

He was relieved of his duties after just two months in charge, and Birmingham were ultimately relegated after his exit.

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Rooney responded to Brady’s comments shortly after the series aired in the summer of 2025.

The 40-year-old defended how he was portrayed in the show, suggesting that the NFL star didn’t understand the differences in culture between American football and English football.

"I think Tom came in once, which was the day before a game where the days are a little bit lighter anyway, and I don't think he really understood football that well,” said Rooney, via the BBC.

“But what he does understand is, he's a hard worker, we know that."

"Football is not NFL - NFL works for three months a year.

“Players do need rest as well, so I think he's very unfair, the way he's come out and portrayed that.”

Rooney went on to manage Plymouth Argyle in the aftermath of his time at Birmingham, where he again struggled for results.

The former forward was in charge for 25 games from May 2024 to December 2024, overseeing just five wins.

The Pilgrims suffered a similar fate to the Blues, with the club finishing 23rd in the Championship table that season.

Rooney has turned his attention to more punditry work in the time since his exit from Home Park.

However, as a player he reached the very pinnacle of the game at club level, winning the 2008 Champions League with Man United.

He also became the Red Devils’ top scorer, as well as England top scorer before being eclipsed by Harry Kane.