Birmingham City send Wayne Rooney packing after 15 games
Birmingham City have sacked Wayne Rooney after just 15 games in charge.
Rooney was appointed at St Andrew’s on October 11 on a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club sixth in the Championship following back-to-back wins under sacked manager John Eustace.
But Rooney has seen his team lose nine of the 15 matches they have played since he took over, leaving the club in 20th place in the Championship table.
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Rooney released a statement in the wake of his sacking, which read: “I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club.
“Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.
“Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16. Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.
“Finally, I wish Birmingham City FC and its owners my best wishes in the pursuit of their ambitions.”
Birmingham suffered a 3-0 defeat at Leeds on New Year’s Day, after which Rooney vowed to fight on as manager of the club.
“I’m a fighter and I get football fans’ opinions,” he said. “I have to draw on my career, my playing career wasn’t always about success. I was in a relegation battle with Everton, I believe in myself.”
Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook said “We are committed to doing what is necessary to bring success to St. Andrew’s.
“Unfortunately, Wayne’s time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction.
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“The search for a successor begins with immediate effect and we will update supporters when we have further news.”
The former England and Manchester United captain was the first managerial hire by new Birmingham owner Tom Wagner and his Knighthead Capital Management group, who bought the Championship club in August.