12 October 2023 , 21:30
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Wayne Rooney knows all about putting on a performance.
From the age of 16 he’s been in the spotlight and, after over two decades, talking about the challenge of leading Birmingham City into a new era didn’t faze him one bit.
While management might be relatively new to him, performing in front of the public most certainly wasn’t - and he put on a polished show as he was unveiled to his new flock.
The former Manchester United and England great talked about recruiting Tom Brady to deliver inspirational speeches to the dressing room, spoke about receiving a Peaky Blinders cap and turning down the offer to manage in the Middle East to realise the potential at the Second City club.
But, most importantly for the owners who have taken a gamble in making a managerial change with their club sitting sixth in the Championship, he talked up his chances of delivering on the pitch.
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He said: “It’s great to be back in English football. It’s what I want to do. I’ve had opportunities to go to other clubs over the past six weeks but, after speaking to Birmingham, and seeing the ambitions of the club, where they want to go, it just excited me.
“I want to be successful. It’s clear this club wants to be successful. We’ve got a lot of work to do. My first training session today with the players will be different from what they’ve been used to.
“But there’s more to come from them. They’ve got more. It’s exciting to see. They’re in sixth. There’s more in them. It’s up to me to release the tension in them. I feel like they are playing within themselves. I need to get them playing more and playing to a level - which they can do - it’s my job to develop them.”
Wayne Rooney has spoken to Tom Brady after becoming manager of Birmingham City (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Rooney said that he embraced the pressure that taking over a club placed in the last play-off spot will bring. He said: “There’s pressure in everyday life. I’ve just come back from Washington DC and driving down the street you see people living on the road.
“That’s pressure to live, eat and get through that day. There’s different pressures in every walk of life. But it will be nice to focus on the training sessions and game. Having a team above me who I can trust and make sure everything is right - maybe that wasn’t the case at my last two clubs, Derby County and DC United.
“This is where I feel I am meant to be. Looking at the ambitions of this club and my own, I believe I’m going to elevate the club. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be here.”
Rooney said that he has already spoken to Brady and hopes to use him as a motivational force. He added: “I’m sure he has a lot of advice and things which worked for him throughout his career - he’s one of the greatest athletes of all time.
“One of the things I want to do when he is over here next is to get him in front of the players - get him talking to them - and get him to share his story.
“Ultimately, whether you are speaking to Tom, Kevin Sinfield or Tony Bellew - it all comes down to the same thing - dedication, work and desire. But it would be great for us to listen to his story - I’m sure it will be inspiring.”