Tom Brady, minority owner of Birmingham City, raised concerns about the “work ethic” of the club’s former manager, Wayne Rooney, labeling some teams in the 2023-24 season as “lazy and entitled.”
The seven-time Super Bowl champion joined Birmingham’s ownership group in August 2023 after Nighthead Capital Management LLC and American financier Tom Wagner took over the club.
“I’m somewhat concerned about the head coach’s work ethic,” Brady stated in an upcoming Amazon Prime documentary, which highlights Birmingham’s promotion to the championship from the previous season.
“Honestly, I don’t have a strong feeling about it,” he added.
Rooney took over as Birmingham’s manager two months after the acquisition and remained in the role for just 83 days before the club faced relegation to League One.
“Well, we’ve already made changes to the coaching staff, but coaches aren’t the ones scoring goals; that responsibility lies with the players,” Brady remarked following Birmingham’s relegation in his inaugural season.
Brady described some of the players as “lazy and talented,” adding that such traits diminish chances of success. “I anticipate significant changes this summer since we need to overhaul the personnel linked to our losses.”
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After their demotion in 2024, Birmingham set a League One record for transfer spending and earned promotion with 111 points, marking an English Football League milestone.
The club has been active in the current transfer window, securing permanent signings, including former Premier League champion Demarai Gray for 9 million euros ($10 million) from Stade Rennais, as they prepare to return to the second tier.
Birmingham will kick off their season at home against Ipswich Town on August 8th.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights the increasing involvement of high-profile athletes like Brady in football, potentially elevating the sport’s visibility. Additionally, Birmingham City’s aggressive strategy in the transfer market signals a commitment to competitiveness, which could restore the club’s former glory and attract a more dedicated fanbase.
