Birmingham Metropolis have appointed Wayne Rooney as their new supervisor.
The 37-year-old former England captain has joined the Championship membership on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Rooney succeeds Blues head coach John Eustace, who was sacked on Monday after 15 months in cost.
The ex-Everton and Manchester United striker’s appointment is the primary managerial change made by Blues’ new American homeowners Shelby Corporations Restricted since they took over in July.
Rooney will likely be supported by his former England team-mate and present England Underneath-21 assistant Ashley Cole and his previous United colleague John O’Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Eire males’s nationwide group.
Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth may even be a part of Rooney’s backroom employees after each assisted him at DC United.
It will likely be Rooney’s third job in administration following spells on the MLS membership and Derby County and his first recreation will likely be at Middlesbrough on 21 October.
“Wayne is a born winner,” Blues co-owner and chairman Tom Wagner said.
“We consider, with the help of his teaching employees, the membership, and our supporters, he’ll take Blues ahead on the following stage of our journey.
“His taking part in philosophy will assist to understand the ambitions we have now set for Birmingham Metropolis.
“Wayne has been making ready for a possibility like this since he launched into his teaching schooling while nonetheless a participant at Manchester United.
“He and his employees have the total help of the board and everybody on the soccer membership.”
‘I can not wait to get began’
Rooney retired from taking part in and was appointed Derby boss in January 2021, following a spell in caretaker cost.
His time at Satisfaction Park was marred by off-field troubles. He saved them from relegation from the Championship by a single level 4 months after taking over the position.
However throughout his first full season in cost in 2021-22, the Rams got a 21-point deduction for being in administration and EFL breaches, alongside a switch embargo. Derby had been relegated to League One and Rooney left in June 2022 with the membership nonetheless in administration.
He returns to England after simply over a 12 months with Washington-based DC United.
“I’m completely delighted to be becoming a member of Birmingham Metropolis at such an thrilling time,” Rooney stated.
“It is rather clear that they’ve a plan and are dedicated to realising their ambition for the membership.”
Rooney added that he and Blues are “absolutely aligned” on what is predicted of him and says the “difficult environments” he has put himself in has “bought me prepared for this chance”.
“It is a challenge that offers me a way of objective and I can not wait to get began,” he stated.
“I’ve a transparent manner that I would like the group to play, and my teaching employees and I’ll work laborious to implement it. We’ll create a successful tradition right here with an id that will get Blues followers on their ft.
“My job is to raise the membership to the following degree. I do know what the expectations are and our job is to ship.”
Birmingham chief govt Garry Prepare dinner known as Rooney’s appointment a “defining second” for the membership earlier than including the brand new boss will work right away with technical director Craig Gardner in evaluating the squad and figuring out potential switch targets in January.
What does Rooney inherit?
Birmingham are the longest serving occupants of the Championship, having accomplished the third of their brief stays within the Premier League in 2011.
That was the identical 12 months they beat Arsenal at Wembley to win the League Cup, making them the final West Midlands aspect to elevate a trophy.
That is their thirteenth successive try at getting again to the highest flight however they’ve solely as soon as gone near a return, their first season again within the second tier beneath Chris Hughton in 2011-12, after they had been crushed by Ian Holloway’s Blackpool within the play-offs.
Since then, regardless of the efforts of 10 completely different bosses, they’ve come nearer to relegation than promotion – twice staying up on the ultimate day, beneath Lee Clark in 2014 and Harry Redknapp in 2017.
However they’re handily positioned this season and sixth within the desk having received three of their first 4 league video games after which twice final week, to edge inside two factors of third-placed Preston.
Rooney should ‘push membership in the direction of Premier League’
Evaluation – BBC Radio WM’s Birmingham Metropolis reporter Richard Wilford
For Wayne Rooney this will likely be a distinct problem – the timing of the managerial change factors to excessive expectations at St Andrew’s and the type of strain he was extra accustomed to throughout his taking part in profession.
Blues have afforded him a big backroom employees, and the presence of former Wolves midfielder Carl Robinson and Rooney’s Derby and DC United colleague Pete Shuttleworth is each bit as essential as the larger names Cole and O’Shea. They add some teaching and analytical expertise to the combination.
He inherits squad, arguably one of the best the membership has fielded since Chris Hughton was on the helm greater than a decade in the past.
Now Rooney should present that he can proceed pushing the membership ahead in the direction of a future within the Premier League.