Tom Brady has launched a scathing attack on Wayne Rooney’s work ethic during his brief and ill-fated tenure as Birmingham City manager, highlighting what he perceived as a lack of intensity and discipline. The comments come from a newly released Amazon Prime docuseries titled Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues, which chronicles Brady’s ownership journey with the club.
In the first episode, Brady is shown attending a training session and team meeting led by Rooney. Afterward, he expresses his unease about Rooney’s approach, describing it as lacking drive and commitment. His concerns are echoed by his business manager, who describes the former England striker’s demeanor as “lackadaisical.”
Rooney took over Birmingham City in October 2023, but his reign lasted only until January 2024. In that time, he managed just two wins in 15 Championship matches, and the club plummeted from a promising sixth place to a dismal 20th. The season ultimately ended in relegation to League One, a catastrophic outcome for a club with ambitions of returning to the Premier League.
The documentary captures a particularly awkward moment between Brady and Rooney, where the latter attempts to differentiate between Premier League and Championship players, citing a lack of focus rather than ability. Brady counters by comparing the mindset difference between football and soccer, saying he treated every practice session like a Super Bowl, urging his players to give their maximum effort at all times.
Brady also admits that sacking previous manager John Eustace in favor of Rooney was a costly mistake. Reflecting on the decision, he acknowledges that going against advice to avoid sweeping changes contributed to the club’s decline.
Despite Rooney’s high-profile appointment, Birmingham rebounded spectacularly under new manager Chris Davies, collecting a record 111 points in League One the following season.
Brady doesn’t reserve his criticism for Rooney alone. He also points fingers at the players, branding them “lazy and entitled” and blaming their attitude for the club’s struggles during the turbulent 2023–24 campaign.
After parting ways with Birmingham, Rooney took up a short-lived role at Plymouth Argyle before transitioning into television punditry, including appearances on Match of the Day. His future in management remains uncertain.
