former SAR government Unity Manager Wayne Rooney is reportedly in talks with Birmingham City to replace John Eustace after the Championship club announced their sacking on Monday.
Eustace was sacked despite Rooney leaving the black and red at the weekend despite leading the Blues to a sixth-place finish in English League Two ahead of the October international break.
Birmingham, which counts Tom Brady as a minority owner and serves as chairman of the advisory board to majority owner Knighthead Capital Management LLC, announced Eustace’s surprise exit in an official statement.
“The board and football management must fully recognize the importance of promoting a winning mentality and a culture of ambition throughout the football club,” the statement read. “With this in mind, Birmingham City have today parted company with head coach John Eustace.
“A new first team manager will be announced in the coming days and will be responsible for creating an identity and a clear ‘fearless’ style of play that will be adopted and embraced by all Birmingham City squads. The club will not be making further comment at this time”
Rooney is expected to be a first-team manager with a “fearless” playing style, despite a mutually agreed departure from D.C. United after failing to reach the MLS playoffs.
Former Manchester United, everton Derby County’s Audi Stadium record was 10 wins, 10 draws and 14 losses, with 40 points, failing to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs for the second consecutive time.
“I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the playoffs,” Rooney said of the setback. “It’s not a thing that has happened, it’s a matter of time. What will happen in the future, I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media. I would go back without lining up anything.”
Shelby Companies Limited, a US company, completed its acquisition of Birmingham in July, with NFL legend Brady confirmed as a minority shareholder the following month.
The Blues’ next game is an away trip to Middlesbrough after the October international break, with Rooney set to face his former Manchester United teammates Michael Carrick — if the former moves to St. Andrews.