Wayne Rooney has been sacked as Birmingham City manager after less than three months in charge. Since he took over in October, the team has lost nine of its 15 games and won only two. “Birmingham City have today sacked manager Wayne Rooney and first team coach Carl Robinson,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.
Rooney was appointed Birmingham coach in October, when the Championship club, England’s second division, was sixth in the table, but has since fallen to 20th place, six points above the relegation zone. They have not won in their last five outings.
“Despite their best efforts, the results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the beginning. Therefore, the board of directors considers that a change in management is in the best interest of the football club,” explains the club.
Rooney replaced John Eustace after resigning as coach of Major League Soccer (MLS) club DC United, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract. “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 at the club,” Rooney said in a statement following his departure.
The former soccer player regretted that the club had not had more patience with him: “Football is a business of results, and I recognize that they have not been at the level that I wanted. However, time is the most precious commodity that a coach needs and I don’t think 13 weeks were enough to oversee the changes that were needed.”
After this tough setback, Rooney explains that he will take some time to digest it: “Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, either as a player or coach, since I was 16 years old. “Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my coaching journey.”
Prior to his time at DC United, Rooney spent 17 months in charge of Derby County, where his team accumulated 55 points, enough to survive, but were relegated to the third tier after a points deduction amid financial problems. The club said his professional development coach, Steve Spooner, will take charge on an interim basis.