A Championship manager has had their say on Birmingham City’s decision to sack Wayne Rooney.
Birmingham City made the decision to cut short the Rooney project this week, sacking the former England and Manchester United striker after just 15 Championship games in charge.
But the 38-year-old won just two of those 15 games, taking 10 points from a possible 45 and seeing his side plummet from 6th down to 20th of the Championship table.
Rooney’s sacking has received a mixed reaction in the media with may including Gary Lineker and Chris Sutton suggesting he should’ve had more time at St Andrew’s.
And now, Rooney’s former Derby County no.2, and current Hull City boss Liam Rosenior has had his say on Rooney’s Blues exit.
Liam Rosenior ‘devastated’ for Wayne Rooney after Birmingham City exit
Speaking to Hull Live, Rosenior had his say on Rooney’s Birmingham City sacking, saying:
“I spoke to Wayne yesterday (Wednesday). I’m devastated for him, but I know he’s a fighter and I know that whatever he wants to do with his career with his life, he ends up doing. It’s a really, really difficult situation to see anyone lose their job, especially someone you have a good relationship with.
“It makes it really, really difficult for us to predict what they’re going to do or the team that they’re going to play. I wish Wayne all the best and I think as (Jose) Mourinho once said you’re not a manager until you’re sacked. That’s part of the job and it’s not a lot of time that he was given there.
“That’s the hard thing for a manager, especially in a Championship because it’s such a difficult league. To be able to put your footprint on a team you need a lot more time than that. That’s not up to me to say whatever decision the board makes is right or wrong. I just don’t like seeing someone, or anybody lose their job, let alone somebody whom I’ve got a really good relationship with.”
Rosenior previously worked as Rooney’s no.2 at Derby County before eventually succeeding him at Pride Park, then landing the Hull City job in 2022.
Rooney reputation now damaged by impossible Blues task
Most will agree that Birmingham City hiring Rooney was a risk. Which it was. But Rooney taking the job was also a risk.
The club demanded the world of Rooney. They demanded that he completely transform the style of play and yet didn’t give him a transfer window to make his changes, so whether or not he was liked by the fans, or whether or not he was the right man, there’s a degree of sympathy for the former England man.
And Rosenior’s comments echo that, and Rooney is tipped to eventually make his return to the dugout, but where he’ll end up remains a mystery.
He’ll surely struggle to get a job in the Championship with his stint at Birmingham City surely having damaged his reputation.
Rooney then might have to venture abroad or even work as a no.2 or a coach at a Premier League side in order to rebuild his reputation and further his coaching knowledge.
Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how Rooney reacts to this setback and to see if he can eventually make a name for himself as a manager.