Exclusive: Wayne Rooney in Advanced Talks with Birmingham City to Take Over as John Eustace's Successor
Birmingham City swiftly pursued talks with Wayne Rooney after dismissing John Eustace As the club seeks a new identity and fearless playing style, both parties are eager to finalize a deal Rooney's management skills are yet to be fully proven, evoking déjà vu for the fans as the club pursues a high-profile appointment
Birmingham City's management is currently engaged in ongoing discussions with Wayne Rooney's agents, aiming to finalize his appointment as the team's new head coach before the weekend. Rooney, who is presently in Washington, is expected to travel to the United Kingdom within the next few days to conclude the agreement.
The ex-England and Manchester United forward was not specifically named in a public letter addressed to Birmingham's fans on Tuesday by the CEO of the club, Gary Cook. However, the letter serves as a reminder to supporters about the goals of the new American owners, Knightshead Capital. It emphasizes the importance of recruiting top-notch individuals in order to enhance the club's performance both on and off the field.
Rooney's DC United contract was mutually terminated over the weekend following their failure to qualify for the MLS play-offs. Talks between Rooney and Birmingham began shortly after the club dismissed John Eustace as head coach. Eustace, who was in charge for 15 months, oversaw 21 wins in his 63 games, with the latest being a 3-1 triumph over West Brom in a West Midlands derby on Friday night.
Birmingham City's statement regarding Eustace's dismissal emphasized the significance of establishing a winning mindset and a culture of ambition throughout the entirety of the football club. A new manager will be introduced within the next few days, with the appointed individual being entrusted to develop a distinct identity and a fearless playing style that will be embraced by all teams affiliated with Birmingham City.
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Eustace was fired by Birmingham after leading the team for 15 months. Despite his lack of surprise, he is deeply disappointed by his dismissal and believes that he played a significant role in stabilizing and guiding the club during its most challenging periods in recent history.
Birmingham's players are equally disheartened by his departure, as they share a strong bond with the 43-year-old. He is eager to embark on the next phase of his managerial journey and has already been presented with potential opportunities.
Eustace was considered as a potential replacement for Michael Beale on the Rangers' list, but he clearly expressed his desire to remain at Birmingham. However, that opportunity has now lapsed as Rangers are nearing the appointment of their new manager.
'Keenness from Birmingham and Rooney's representatives to get a deal done'
We News reporter Rob Dorsett:
Rooney is currently in the US and has no immediate plans to travel to the UK. However, Birmingham has officially approached his representatives to express their interest in discussing the possibility. These formal negotiations commenced later on the same day.
Based on conversations with various sources, it is evident that both parties are eager to finalize an agreement that would enable Rooney to assume the role of the new manager. Nevertheless, certain obstacles need to be addressed before this can happen.
The decision made by the new owners is viewed as strange from the perspective of Birmingham supporters. Many fans on social media and those that I have spoken to have drawn comparisons to the club's previous decision to replace Gary Rowett with the well-known Gianfranco Zola, which proved to be ineffective.
In truth, there have been few complaints from supporters or others regarding the job Eustace has been doing. He has successfully guided Birmingham through difficult times, bringing stability to the club overall. Eustace is highly regarded by both the players and staff, and has been achieving positive results. The owners have made a significant decision.
Rooney still has it all to prove in management
My understanding is that Craig Gardner, the director of football here, played a major role in this decision. He is eager to witness Birmingham's adoption of a more attacking style of football. It is evident that Rooney has a huge global reputation and is considered a box office player. Both sides viewed this as the natural end of Rooney's time at DC United and the commencement of a new chapter, potentially at St Andrew's in the very near future.EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:
Wayne Rooney received praise for his efforts at Derby County. In his initial experience as a manager, he faced numerous challenges, including administration, a 21-point deduction, and a Championship squad consisting mainly of academy graduates and free transfers, which did not meet the expected standard.
The Derby supporters were impressed by his dedication, honest communication, and determined approach. It is worth mentioning that under his leadership in a full season, they managed to secure sufficient points to finish in 17th place. The fact that he kept them in contention for safety until mid-April can be described as a remarkable achievement.
However, it is a completely different challenge to elevate a club that is finally progressing in the right direction and push it higher up the Championship standings.
Rooney's tenure at DC United did not involve much success in uprooting trees. Without his prominent name, it seems unlikely that his managerial track record alone would suffice to persuade the new Birmingham owners that he deserves to take over from John Eustace at St Andrew's. At 37 years old, Rooney still has much to demonstrate.
Deja vu for Birmingham fans as club hierarchy push for big-name appointment
We EFL editor Simeon Gholam:
Supporters of Birmingham City will experience a sense of deja vu with this announcement, reminding them of the year 2016 when the team was on the verge of the play-offs after being acquired by Trillion Trophy Asia two months prior.
The owners then decided to dispense with Gary Rowett, who had the side three points off sixth, to go with a big-name appointment in Gianfranco Zola.
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Gianfranco Zola replaced Gary Rowett at Birmingham in 2016
Zola's decision turned out to be a disastrous move, as he only managed to secure two victories out of the 24 games he oversaw. This dismal performance caused the club to plummet from the seventh position in the league to a disappointing 21st.
As the season neared its end, Harry Redknapp took charge for the remaining three games. Remarkably, he was able to secure two victories, ensuring the club's retention in the Championship by a slim margin.
Since Rowett's dismissal, Birmingham has not achieved a finishing position above 17th in the last seven seasons, following two 10th-placed finishes prior to his departure. Fans of the club will be hoping for a change in fortune with the appointment of their next manager, wanting to avoid a repeat of past decline.
