EFL News: Rooney sacked by Birmingham
What next for Wayne Rooney and Birmingham City?
Picture credit - Colin Bradbury | Flickr
Birmingham City has decided to part ways with manager Wayne Rooney after a brief stint of only 83 days leading the Championship club.
The 38-year-old took over the managerial role on 11 October following the contentious choice to remove John Eustace, with the team positioned sixth in the table at that time.
However, the team's performance has seen a decline, now standing at 20th place. The recent 3-0 defeat to Leeds on Monday marked the ninth loss during Rooney's 15-game tenure.
Professional development coach Steve Spooner will be assuming temporary charge for Birmingham. Additionally, the club has also ended its association with one of Rooney's backroom staff, former Wolves and Wales midfielder Carl Robinson.
The decision to bring in former England captain Rooney, who had previously managed Derby County and MLS side DC United, drew comparisons to the club's unfortunate move of sacking Gary Rowett in December 2016 and replacing him with the globally-known Gianfranco Zola. However, Zola's tenure saw only two victories in 22 games before his dismissal in April 2017, leading to the appointment of Harry Redknapp.
In January 2024, Birmingham are only sits six points clear of the relegation places and is set to face Hull City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
The team has three crucial league matches ahead of the January transfer window closure, all against teams just above them in the table. These include Swansea and Middlesbrough at home, with a fixture against Stoke away in between.
While it was initially assumed that Rooney, appointed after the last transfer window closed, would be given the chance to make changes in the January transfer window, the club has chosen to take action now. This decision allows the new manager time to focus on potential new signings and work towards improving the team's performance.
Icons: Wayne Rooney (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
Wayne Rooney's best ever goals (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
What are the fans saying?
The fans were not happy after their recent defeat against Leeds United.
Mini vlog🎥
— Blues Focus (@BluesFocus) January 1, 2024
Wayne Rooney, get out of our club🎶 rings around the away end at FT.
Full vlog out later!🔜#BCFC | #LUFC pic.twitter.com/fAcx5Lw1Cm
This was the view of one Birmingham fan on Facebook: "Drawing parallels with Zola's unfortunate half-season in 2016-17 was unavoidable, with the primary distinction being that the new owners have decided to cut ties much earlier. The decision of Garry Cook to pledge "no-fear football" during Rooney's introduction was akin to placing a burden on the former England striker's shoulders."
Another fan explored some of the key moments during Rooney's time in charge: "Under Eustace, everyone was on the same page, pushing for a play-off spot. Similar to Rowett seven years earlier, Eustace may not have secured a top-six finish ultimately, but both managers would likely have steered clear of the chaos that ensued. For Rooney, a crucial moment presented itself at Plymouth. After a well-controlled victory at Cardiff and a commendable performance in a defeat at home against Leicester, Birmingham City was leading at Home Park when Krystian Bielik received a harsh red card. Unfortunately, they couldn't hold onto a 3-1 lead with 10 men, leaving Devon with only a draw."
