Tom Brady reveals what "worried" him about Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City | OneFootball

Tom Brady's concerns over Wayne Rooney have been revealed

Tom Brady questioned Wayne Rooney’s work ethic prior to Birmingham City’s decision to sack the former England international.

The 39-year-old was put in charge at St. Andrew’s in October 2023, with the club sitting inside the play-off places.

The Midlands outfit made the decision to replace John Eustace with the former forward after his exit from DC United earlier that year.

However, Rooney lasted just 15 games in charge, winning only two times, before being dismissed, with Birmingham ultimately suffering relegation to League One that season.

Tom Brady reveals Wayne Rooney concerns

The new docu-series following Birmingham, Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues, shows Brady raising his concerns over the then-manager.

He questioned Rooney’s work ethic prior to the club’s decision to part ways with the coach.

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

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

Rooney has since managed one other club since his exit from Birmingham in January 2024, taking charge at Plymouth Argyle.

The 39-year-old similarly struggled, overseeing just five wins from 25 games, with the Pilgrims also suffering relegation to League One in the process, with Rooney last six months in the dugout.

Tom Brady reacts to Birmingham’s relegation

Birmingham suffered relegation from the Championship in 2024, with the team finishing 22nd in the table and only one point away from safety.

In response, Brady, who is a minority investor in the side, blamed the players for the club’s poor performance in the second division.

"Well we've already changed the coach, so it's really the players because the coach doesn't go out there and put the ball in the goal," said the former NFL star, via the Independent.

"They were lazy, they were entitled and when you're lazy and entitled, you don't have much of a chance to succeed.

“We've got to change all the people that are associated with losing, so I think this summer there's going to be a lot of people gone."

Birmingham have since earned promotion back to the Championship under Chris Davies, and will begin their campaign on 8 August with a clash at home against Ipswich Town.

Tom Brady setting standards at Birmingham

Brady’s knowledge of the sport is limited, but as a former pro athlete that played at the top of American Football, he knows what it takes to be among the best.

This is the expertise he can bring to Birmingham in his role as a minority investor, as well as raising the club’s profile with his involvement.

The advent of these docu-series following sports, athletes and teams has helped the likes of F1 and Wrexham gain a lot of attention, and the Blues will be hoping that Brady being such a central figure of this show will help achieve the same level of success.

The decision to sack Rooney playing a key role in the show will deliver a level of insight that supporters will be keen to see given how disastrous his reign as manager proved.