Rooney says Brady's critique of his work ethic is unfair

Wayne Rooney has described Tom Brady’s critique of his work ethic at Birmingham City as “very unfair,” saying the NFL great does not understand football and that his remarks misrepresented the situation at the Championship club. Brady, a minority owner at Birmingham since August 2023, was shown questioning Rooney’s dedication in a fly-on-the-wall documentary about his involvement with the club. Rooney responded on his new BBC podcast, saying the comment was ill-judged and highlighting the differences between football and American football, where the calendar and demands are different.

Rooney’s criticism of Brady comes after a tumultuous period at Birmingham. The former England captain was appointed manager in October 2023 but lasted only 83 days, overseeing a run that left the club sitting 20th in the Championship before his sacking in January 2024. The ownership change at St Andrew’s occurred when Knighthead Capital Management took control of the club in mid-2023, with Brady joining as a part-owner soon after. Rooney’s tenure coincided with a broader season of upheaval for a club that had already seen multiple managerial changes in a short period.