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Wayne Rooney slams Tom Brady after work ethic jibe 'I dont think he understood football'

Wayne Rooney has hit back at Birmingham co-owner Tom Brady after the NFL legend personally criticised him in a scathing verdict following his sacking as Blues boss

[Wayne Rooney]

Wayne Rooney has hit back at Tom Brady(Image: BBC)

Wayne Rooney has hit back at Birmingham co-owner Tom Brady after he questioned his work ethic.

The former Manchester United and England captain took the reins of Birmingham in October 2023 and was sacked just three months later, with the Blues ultimately being relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, said he was "a little worried about our head coach's work ethic" in the behind-the-scenes documentary about his part ownership of the club.

Speaking in the first episode of his The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport, the former Blues boss disappointingly responded to Bradys personal criticism of him during his tenure as manager at St Andrews.

Rooney said: I think it was a very unfair comment. When I went into Birmingham, they were in a mess really. Hence the fact that, the players werent really the players who could take the club forward.

[Tom Brady]

Tom Brady slammed Wayne Rooney's "work ethic"(Image: Getty Images)

We knew that and I think, Tom come in once which was the day before a game where the day is a little bit light anyway and I dont think he really understood football that well at the time, maybe he does now

But what he does understand is, hes a hard worker, we know that, so thats why Im really disappointed with the comment because football is not NFL - NFL works for 3 months a year, players do need rest as well, so I think he was very unfair the way hes come out and portrayed that.

Rooney argued that the Blues didnt just fail under his management during their Championship relegation season.

[Wayne Rooney Birmingham dejected]

Rooney won just two of his games in charge of Birmingham(Image: Getty Images)

After controversially taking over from John Eustace, who had the club in the play-off positions, Rooney won just two of his 15 games in charge as Birmingham plummeted towards the drop zone.

But despite his troubles, experienced managers Tony Mowbray and Gary Rowett were both unable to save the Blues from relegation after taking charge following his sacking in January.

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He continued: Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively, hes one of the greatest - if not the greatest athletes - of all time and Birmingham do look like theyre getting it right now, which is good.

I think what they have done is got the players out they need to get out because when I was there, you had Tony Mowbray, Gary Rowett after me who also struggled as well but yeah bit disappointed but nothing too serious so move on

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