Birmingham City, competing in the English Premier League, announced on Wednesday that Wayne Rooney will return to coaching in England after being appointed coach of Birmingham City for three and a half years.
Manchester United legend Rooney leaves his position as D.C. United coach on Sunday after his side failed to reach the MLS playoffs for the second successive season and is joining Birmingham, where AFL legend Tom Brady announced in August that he was becoming a minority owner and advisory board member. chair.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
Rooney’s former teammates Ashley Cole, who played with him in England, and John O’Shea, who spent time with him at Manchester United, will join his coaching staff.
“I have built my coaching career, putting myself in challenging environments to prepare me for this opportunity,” Rooney said. He said in a statement. “It’s a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can’t wait to get started.”
Rooney replaces John Eustace as technical director. Eustace’s Birmingham side finished sixth in the Championship after five wins in their first 11 matches before his 15-month coaching spell ended on Monday.
Eustace helped Birmingham avoid relegation last season in difficult circumstances caused by two failed possession bids and the looming threat of a points deduction for breaching Premier League regulations.
“Wayne is a natural winner,” Birmingham co-owner Tom Wagner said. “We believe that, with the support of his coaching staff, the club and our supporters, he will take the Blues forward in the next stage of our journey. His playing philosophy will help realize the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.”
“Wayne has been preparing for an opportunity like this since he began his coaching education while still a Manchester United player. He and his staff have the full support of the board and everyone at the Football Club.”
Rooney has previously managed the Championship, with his first coaching stint at Derby County between January 2021 and June 2022.
He led the club from the foot of the Championship to safety months after his arrival but failed to repeat the feat in his first full season due to a 21-point deduction. The 55 points Derby won that year would have been enough to secure safety in any other Championship season.
Rooney took over as coach of DC United in July 2022 after a previous period of playing at the club, but he was unable to prevent the team from finishing last in the Eastern Conference in his first season. He led the club to a ninth-placed finish in 2023, but it was not enough to secure a play-off place.
D.C. United announced his departure immediately after their final regular season game, a 2-0 loss to New York City FC.
Rooney is United’s top scorer with 253 goals, and earlier this year, Harry Kane usurped the title of England’s all-time top scorer.
