Championship: Birmingham City confirm Wayne Rooney’s appointment as new manager

Birmingham City have confirmed the appointment of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney as new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

This was announced in an official statement on the club’s website on Wednesday.

Rooney is to assume his new role immediately, after recently parting ways with Major League Soccer side D.C. United.

The 37-year-old former England international is expected to bring his experience to the club which sit sixth in the Sky Bet Championship.

Working with Rooney are a team of coaching staff, including his former England teammate Ashley Cole.

Others are John O’Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland men’s national team, Carl Robinson, and Pete Shuttleworth, who assisted Rooney at D.C. United and Derby County.

Ashley Cole and John O’Shea will continue in their roles with their respective national teams, while Maik Taylor is retained as the Goalkeeper coach.

Rooney started his coaching journey with Derby County in January 2021, where he helped the Rams maintain their Sky Bet Championship participation.

Despite facing a 21-point deduction in his first full season, he led the team filled primarily with academy players to finish with 55 points.

His tenure at Derby County ended in June 2022, before departing for DC United in the United States in July the same year.

Rooney had some struggles qualifying DC United in their play-offs and eventually, had a mutual agreement with the club to step down early October.