Bringing Relegated Birmingham, Tom Brady Questions Manchester United Legend's Work Etos

Wayne Rooney has had a bad impact since becoming the manager of Birmingham City (Instagram/@waynerooney).

JAKARTA - Birmingham City minority owner Tom Brady questioned Manchester United's work ethic and the quality of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney when he was manager in the 2023/2024 season.

Rooney is Birmingham's manager whose term is relatively short. He entered in October 2023 and was later fired after only 15 matches in January 2024.

Even though he only managed Birmingham for a while, according to Brady, Rooney has created a bad impact for the team. The owner of the seven-time Super Bowl title called Birmingham players lazy.

"I'm a little worried about the work ethic of our head coach (Rooney). I mean, I don't know, I don't have a good instincts for that," Brady said in the documentary Amazon Prime which focuses on Birmingham's promotion to the 2024/2025 Championship season.

Rooney was appointed Birmingham manager two months after Knighthead and Brady took over. He only lasted 83 days.

Bad results during Rooney's leadership made Birmingham even more mired and finally relegated to League One.

Therefore, as a fixture, Brady will wash the warehouses of players who have had a bad impact on the club, including players in Rooney's coaching.

"Well, we've changed coaches. So, actually the problem is with the players because the coaches don't go on the pitch and score goals."

"They (players) are lazy, they feel entitled (to be lazy). When you are lazy, you don't have many chances to succeed."

"We have to change everyone related to defeat. So, I think this summer a lot of people will leave," Brady said after Birmingham relegated in its first season with the club.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady became the owner of the Birmingham minority in August 2023 after the Knighthead Capital Management LLC and US financier Tom Wagner took over the club.

After being relegated in 2024, Birmingham then spent a League One record transfer and reached promotion with a record 111 points.

Birmingham is also busy in the transfer market this summer ahead of their return to Championsip (British second level league).

They have signed six players on permanent contracts so far, including Demarai Gray - who has won the Premier League with Leicester City - as well as former Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, for 9 million euros from Stade Rennais.

They started the 2025/2026 Championship season at home against Ipswich Town on August 8, 2025.