Birmingham City have announced the appointment of former Manchester United and Everton midfielder Wayne Rooney as their new manager.
The former England captain will take the reins at Birmingham following his recent departure from Major League Soccer club DC United, where he failed to lead the club to the play-offs.
Rooney has pledged his allegiance to Birmingham by signing a three-and-a-half-year contract, ensuring his presence at St Andrew’s until 2026.
The former Derby County manager will be joined by his former England teammate, Ashley Cole, and the current assistant coach for England’s Under-21s, John O’Shea.
Rooney is also bringing aboard Carl Robinson, the assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland men’s national team, as well as Pete Shuttleworth.
Both coaches were part of Rooney’s staff during his tenure at DC United.
After signing on the dotted line, Rooney said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City Football Club at such an exciting time.
“It is very clear that they have a plan and are committed to realising their ambition for the club. We are fully aligned on what is expected.
“I have been building my managerial career, putting myself in challenging environments, to get me ready for this opportunity. It’s a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can’t wait to get started.
“I have a clear way that I want the team to play, and my coaching staff and I will work hard to implement it. We will create a winning culture here with an identity that gets Blues fans on their feet.
Rooney’s appointment comes in the wake of John Eustace’s sudden departure from the club, which raised eyebrows considering Birmingham were performing well.
The 43-year-old had steered the club to a sixth-place standing in the Championship after taking 18 points from 11 games.
Despite Eustace’s successful tenure at St Andrew’s, the club believes Rooney is the ideal candidate to lead their charge towards securing promotion to the Premier League.
