03 January 2024 , 11:30
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Gary Lineker and Micah Richards have weighed in on Birmingham's decision to sack Wayne Rooney, with the Manchester United legend's tenure lasting just 15 games.
Rooney controversially took over from John Eustace in October, despite Birmingham enjoying a good start to the season which had them in a play-off spot. However, Birmingham claimed Eustace and the board were not "fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition" and spoke of a desire for his replacement to implement a " clear 'no fear' playing style".
Rooney was appointed two days after Eustace's departure but he failed to have the desired impact as Blues won just two of his 15 games in charge and slipped to 20th in the table, just six points off the relegation zone. In a statement released after his sacking, Rooney hit out at Birmingham for not giving him more time.
"Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be," he said. "However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed."
And Lineker agrees with Rooney's assessment, stating that he hopes he gets another opportunity elsewhere to prove himself. "I hope he gets another chance because three months in football is not much time to change things at a club," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast.
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"But you understand why patience will wear thin, especially when you start dipping towards the bottom of the table." Richards, however, suggested Rooney should have been more adaptable during his time at St Andrew's.
"Points well made, but just picking on one of your points - I think the best managers know how to adapt at the right times," he said. "If you've got a team who can be solid and make you a goal and just sort of get your way through, we're talking about a transfer window.
Wayne Rooney was sacked by Birmingham on Tuesday (Getty Images)"So a lot of people are saying 'okay wait until January as he's not brought in his own players, is it really fair to judge him' but to be honest, the team was doing so well so there's no real excuse. Yes, the style of play, you made a really good point about the Championship.
"I played in the Championship and it's Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday and Tuesday in between them days, you just rest anyway. So to try and get your style of play within the season is going to be very, very difficult.
"I think he's got a chance of being still a very good manager because at Derby, he did a good job with what they were dealing with finances and losing players and the transfer embargoes so many different things and he nearly kept them up. It's just this Birmingham job because of where they were in the league and to be 20th now, it's not gone to plan and we have to be honest about that."