Wayne Rooney hits back at Tom Brady: ‘He does not understand football well'

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​Wayne Rooney has hit back at Tom Brady questioning his work ethic whilst at Birmingham City, saying the NFL legend does not 'understand football well'.
Brady, a minority owner of Birmingham, called out Rooney's dedication in the club's Prime Video series Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues, where he is heard saying: 'I am a little worried about our head coach's work ethic.'
The former New England Patriots quarter-back appointed Rooney in October 2023 before sacking him four months later after he only managed two wins in 15 matches.
'I think Tom came in once, which was the day before a game where the days are a little bit lighter anyway, and I don't think he really understood football that well,' the former Manchester United and England striker said on his new BBC Sounds podcast 'The Wayne Rooney Show' which launches Friday.
'But what he does understand is, he's a hard worker, we know that. Football is not NFL – NFL works for three months a year. Players do need rest as well, so I think he's very unfair, the way he's come out and portrayed that.
'Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively. He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest athletes of all time and Birmingham do look like they're getting it right now, which is good and I think what they have done is got the players out that they needed to get out.'
Credit: BBC, The Wayne Rooney Show
Birmingham were taken over by Knighthead Capital in June 2023 with Brady buying a stake in the club two months later and controversially sacked manager John Eustace for Rooney despite the club sitting sixth in the Championship.
The side quickly plummeted down the table and Rooney was then replaced by Tony Mowbray but had to leave the club after being diagnosed with bowel cancer after eight games.
'When I went into Birmingham, they were in a mess really,' Rooney added. 'Hence the fact that the players weren't really the players who could take the club forward. You had Tony Mowbray, Gary Rowett after me, who also struggled as well.'
Under new manager Chris Davies, Birmingham broke the League One record for points last season (111) after they were relegated and have re-entered the Championship with ambitions of reaching the Premier League.
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