Birmingham City has decided to part ways with manager Wayne Rooney, ending his tenure after just 15 games in charge of the club. The decision comes as a result of a series of disappointing performances, with the team dropping from sixth to 20th in the Championship table under Rooney’s leadership.
Rooney took over as manager in October, succeeding John Eustace, who was let go by the club. Despite arriving with high expectations, Rooney struggled to turn things around, managing only two wins in 15 matches. The final blow came with a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United on New Year’s Day, prompting the club to make the decision to terminate Rooney’s contract.
In a statement, Birmingham City expressed gratitude to Rooney and his First Team Coach, Carl Robinson, for their efforts but emphasized the need for a change in management to meet the club’s expectations. Rooney, in his own statement, acknowledged the results fell short of his aspirations and mentioned that the brief 13-week period was insufficient to implement the necessary changes.
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Rooney, who began his managerial career at Birmingham with a late 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough, secured only one additional win in his six-game tenure, defeating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at St Andrew’s. His only other victory came away at Cardiff in mid-December. Overall, Rooney’s managerial record, spanning spells at Derby County, D.C. United, and Birmingham, includes 40 wins in 153 matches, with a win percentage of 26.1%.
In the aftermath of his departure, Rooney expressed appreciation to the club’s leadership for the opportunity and support, while also acknowledging the challenges faced during his short stint. Looking ahead, he plans to take some time with his family before considering the next opportunity in his managerial journey. Meanwhile, Birmingham City’s Board remains committed to rebuilding the club and pursuing its ambitions.