Izuchukwu OkosiChampionship side, Birmingham City, on Tuesday sacked manager Wayne Rooney after just 15 games and 83 days in charge of the club.
In the 15 matches he has been in charge of Birmingham since 11 October 2023 when he replaced John Eustace, Rooney lost nine of the fixtures with the 3-0 loss at Leeds being the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRooney picked up only 10 points from the 15 matches he oversaw.
The former Manchester United, Everton superstar and England international took charge of the team when they were sixth in the table but they have plummeted to the 20th position in the 24-team division and in danger of a relegation dogfight.
Professional development coach Steve Spooner has immediately been appointed on interim basis while one of Rooney’s backroom team, former Wolves and Wales midfielder Carl Robinson was also sacked.
“Football is a results business and I recognise they’ve not been at the level I wanted them to be,” Rooney admitted after the news was made public.
Continuing, the 38-year-old Rooney said:
“I would like to thank Tom Wagner and Tom Brady (co-owners) and Garry Cook (chief executive) for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club,” Rooney said.
“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.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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