Wayne Rooney was shocked when he was told after just 15 games that his tenure as Birmingham City manager was coming to an end.
The former England forward has given the impression that he has joined a long-term project after signing a three-and-a-half-year deal. Rooney has enjoyed open dialogue with the club’s top brass – including chief executive Gary Cook and director of football Craig Gardner – and there is no sign their confidence in him is waning.
Birmingham have won just two of Rooney’s 15 games in charge, but even after New Year’s Day defeat to Leeds United he remained optimistic that he was a “fighter” and would not shy away from the challenge of bailing the team out of trouble. . The game saw Birmingham slip from sixth to 20th in the Championship table, just six points above the relegation zone.
City fans were no longer in good spirits with Rooney after he replaced the popular John Eustace, and by the end of Monday’s game they were chanting “Wayne Rooney, get out of our club.” ” Let no one doubt their decision. Less than 24 hours later, club executives came to the same conclusion.
Birmingham players were informed of the news yesterday morning as they arrived at the club’s temporary training ground in Henley-in-Arden. The news once again caused surprise, but perhaps also relief.
Rooney was tasked with reshaping a group of players known for their counter-attacking football, well-organized and difficult to beat under Eustace, into an attacking side built on possession and fearless in possession. Apparently it doesn’t work.
The squad felt that sacking Eustace was unnecessary. He is an honest, hard-working coach who led the club through difficult times under previous ownership, but the players have tried to embrace the new methods of Rooney and his new but relatively inexperienced backroom staff, which includes the former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and Rooney’s former Manchester United team-mate John O’Shea.
Wayne Rooney hired to instill a new style of football at Birmingham (Nathan Sterk/Getty Images)
There was no evidence that players were not playing for Rooney and there were moments, such as the 2-2 draw at home to Ipswich Town and the 1-0 win over Cardiff City, when things seemed about to go smoothly. But such moments were too few to appease disgruntled fans who saw a team that lacked structure, looked confused or couldn’t play the way Rooney wanted.
deeper
Why Birmingham brought in Wayne Rooney to replace John Eustace
Despite his results and some strong public criticism of them from the manager, Rooney was not popular with his players.Rooney has occasionally questioned his team’s performance Mental strength, competence, even personal pride—these words stung some of them. After the Leeds game, Rooney said there was an urgent need for an overhaul and realignment of the squad to play the way he wanted, something that would take more than one transfer window.
Like many great players who become managers, Rooney became increasingly frustrated when his players seemed unable to do things he considered easy and second nature on the pitch.
However, he was not particularly intervening during training. Instead, Rooney took on more of the watching duties, leaving much of the work to his assistants Karl Robinson (who worked with him in MLS at D.C. United) and O’Shea, while Cole Responsible for positioning the ball.
Rooney would chime in when he saw something he wanted to change or when he wanted to emphasize a point. But it’s surprising to some that Rooney hasn’t been more hands-on, especially with his attacking players, given his illustrious career. Apart from midfielder Jordan James, few members of the squad have improved during Rooney’s tenure.
Rooney has not been helped by injuries to some of his best players, such as summer recruits Ethan Laird and Tyler Roberts, as well as the sluggish form of some senior players, such as goalkeeper John Rudy and captain Deion Sanderson. But Rooney worked hard to get the rest of his team to fully agree with the game plan, which often changed as he simplified it again and again.
Birmingham beat Leeds United 3-0 on Monday (George Wood/Getty Images)
Although the team’s performance seemed to improve against Cardiff City, Leicester City and Plymouth Argyle, his performance in the Boxing Day home games against Stoke City and Bristol City There were verbal altercations between some staff and fans and Rooney. was booed — putting his future in jeopardy. When die-hard away fans turned on him at Leeds, his fate was effectively sealed.
Birmingham were asked to radically change their approach and move away from a style that the players believed in but the club’s hierarchy did not. It may have struggled at times under Eustace, but it has proven to be effective this season.
Eustace was expelled not because of a desire to bring in Rooney, but because they wanted the team to play fearless football after failing to finish above 17th in the past five seasons. Eustace believes it’s too early for a group of young players who are just getting used to the way he thinks best suits them.
However, even Rooney quickly realized that he had to adjust his ambitions as his players struggled to execute his game plan, with his full-backs high and wide and the full-backs attacking from the back.
This attacking style completely changed when Bristol City played away to St Andrews, which was a monotonous 0-0 draw. Rooney admitted afterwards that he was ready for the team not to concede a goal, having scored three goals in each of the previous three games.
Before Christmas, Rooney invited a handful of reporters to watch the final preparation session before the trip to Cardiff, which gave him one of his two wins. He insists his players can do what he asks in training but make too many mistakes on match day, again suggesting the problem is more psychological than technical.
He may be right about some on the team, because while some want to move on, there’s also a sense that some are making it through the season.
Some players missed the annual Christmas party in early December, which they felt was inappropriate given their poor form. While the team isn’t divided, confidence is low. Ultimately, Rooney failed to develop a positive attitude.
While some may welcome his departure, many staff on the training ground retain some sympathy for Rooney, who was striking, friendly and approachable. It feels like he doesn’t have enough players to deliver on that promise, and it will take several transfer windows – and a lot of money – to rectify that.
One of the first priorities for the club’s new owners, Knighthead Capital Management, is to re-establish the club’s connection with its fans after years of mismanagement. They hope Rooney’s appointment will do just that. Instead, trust has been broken.
Birmingham chief executive Gary Cook faces backlash from fans (Nathan Sterk/Getty Images)
The next decision they make must be the right one, and not just because Birmingham – the Championship’s oldest club – once again find themselves in a precarious position.
Cook spent much of yesterday evaluating management’s options, but there are no candidates waiting to step in. Career development coach Steve Spooner will take charge of Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Hull City, with Cole, O’Shea and Peter Shuttleworth set to assist the side but need to start picking up the pieces and become better. It’s getting more urgent. They hope to have their new players in place when they return to league action against Swansea City on January 13.
Steve Cooper and former Birmingham defender Graham Potter are both available and possess Premier League quality but are unlikely to want the job. Eustace, meanwhile, is open to the idea of a quick return but Birmingham is not expected to return to his side.
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley could be a candidate who ticks many boxes. The 49-year-old, who was born in Birmingham, has played and coached at the club in the past and is popular with fans. The way he coaches England’s young teams is also in line with the club’s vision and he has experience coaching young players. Cole also worked with Carsley in the England squad.
Carsley may not have the star power of Rooney, which would help raise the club’s profile and help revenue growth, but Birmingham should have understood by now that this is a club that needs substance over style.
deeper
Rooney should be rested for first time in 22 years after exiting Birmingham City
(Top photo: Stu Foster/Getty Images)
