Rooney to visit St Mary's this month as he is named Birmingham manager

The former Three Lions skipper replaces John Eustace at St Andrew’s after leaving DC United last week.

Rooney, who was Derby boss between November 2020 and June 2022, is joined by Ashley Cole and John O’Shea as part of his backroom staff.

US-based Shelby Companies Limited completed a takeover of Birmingham in July and owner Tom Wagner has been seeking to make a change of management, with Rooney’s name linked with the club in September.

Rooney commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City 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.

“I’ve played at St. Andrew’s and Birmingham City fans were always loud and passionate about their team. It was a really difficult place to come as an opponent and now I get to experience what it is like to have them behind us."

Saints are set to host Birmingham City in Championship action on Saturday, October 28. The match is live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off set for 12:30PM.

In August seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady became a minority owner in the club. Eustace was sacked despite guiding Birmingham to sixth place in the Championship this season.

He replaced Lee Bowyer in July 2022 and helped Birmingham finish nine points above the drop zone in the second tier amid off-field issues surrounding the ownership of the club.

The former Coventry and Watford midfielder was axed on Monday and chief executive Garry Cook vowed to take Blues to the next level.

He said: “The owners and board members are ambitious. They are driven to help make Birmingham City a football powerhouse. It will not happen overnight. It is a step-by-step approach.

“We are well aware of what has happened at Blues over the past decade. We believe we have moved on from those dark days giving hope and aspiration to existing and new fans.

“Our intent is to be judged over what we do in the years to come and be ambitious with the new story that we are writing.”