Wayne Rooney Hits Back At Tom Brady After Work Ethic Jibe: 'He Doesn't Understand Football...'
Wayne Rooney has called Tom Brady's criticism of his work ethic 'unfair" and stated that the NFL legend does not understand football. Former Manchester United and England captain Rooney was dismissed as Birmingham manager in January 2024 after serving less than three months.
Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Brady, who became a minority shareholder in Birmingham in August 2023, expressed concern about the head coach's work ethic in a recently aired documentary after visiting the Blues' training ground two months later.
'I think Tom came in once, which was the day before a game when the days are generally lighter, and I don't think he really understood football that well," Rooney mentioned on his new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, which is available on the BBC's digital platforms.
'Football is not NFL — NFL operates for three months a year. Players do need rest as well, so I think it's very unfair how he's portrayed that."
Following Rooney's departure, Birmingham appointed Tony Mowbray and Gary Rowett as managers for the 2023/24 season but were relegated to League One.
'When I joined Birmingham, they were in a real mess," added Rooney. 'The players weren't the type who could take the club forward."
Since then, the project led by the American-based hedge fund Knighthead Capital has seen a turnaround.
Birmingham's wealthy backers invested an unprecedented £30 million ($41 million) in transfers for a League One club last season and set an English Football League record by amassing 111 points as they clinched the title.
'Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively," said Rooney. 'He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest athletes of all time, and Birmingham now seems to be heading in the right direction, which is good. I think they have managed to get rid of the players they needed to."
With AFP Inputs
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