Wayne Rooney said Tom Brady doesn’t understand football after the Birmingham co-owner questioned the work ethics of the former Manchester United player.
Following the release of the Amazon series at the club, it was revealed that Brady questioned whether Rooney had the right work ethic in the latter era as the club’s manager.
“I’m a little worried about the head coach’s work ethic,” Brady said. “I mean, I don’t know, I don’t have a great instinct about it.”
Rooney has since said the comments were “unfair” and has not led to football knowledge, saying they suggested knowledge of the NFL.
“I think that was a very unfair comment,” Rooney told the BBC. “When I went to Birmingham, they were really confused,” Rooney said.
“The fact that the players weren’t really the players who could move the club forward.
“I think Tom has come once, and this was the day before the match, when the days were a little lighter anyway.
“But what he understands is, he is hardworking, we know that.
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“Soccer is not in the NFL. The NFL works for three months a year. He’s very unfair because players need rest too, and the way he came out and drew it.”
Rooney didn’t want to criticise Brady much. He respected him “on a large scale,” but pointed to Tony Mowbley and Gary Rowett’s tenure as proof that Rooney was not the only problem.
“Listen, I have great respect for Tom Brady,” he continued.
“He is one of the best, if not the best athlete of all time, and it looks like Birmingham is getting it now.
“You had Tony Mowbley, Gary Lowett after me. He struggled as well. So at this point, it wasn’t too serious, so I’ll move on.”
Rooney was appointed on October 11, 2023 and took over the team sitting sixth in the championship under John Eustass, but his two wins in 15 games left him on a three-year contract for just 83 days.
Under Rooney, club points per game fell from 1.24 to 0.67, relegating them to League One for the first time in the third division since 1995.
Brady also told players back then that he was “lazy” and “right.”
“Well, we’ve already changed coaches, so it’s really a player because coaches don’t go out there or put the ball in the goal,” he said.
“They are lazy, they are entitled, and when you are lazy and qualified, you don’t have much chance of success.”
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