A recently surfaced clip from the “Built in Birmingham” documentary has ignited social media, revealing legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady’s candid and critical initial impressions of Wayne Rooney’s managerial appointment at Birmingham City. This viral sports footage captures a pivotal moment demonstrating the American icon’s early doubts about the English football management style.
Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, became a minority owner of Birmingham City in 2023, stepping into a prominent role as the club navigated a turbulent period. His investment coincided with Birmingham’s return to the Championship League after a season that saw them narrowly escape relegation from League One, followed by a promising start to the 2023/24 campaign that quickly deteriorated.
The club’s contentious decision to replace fan-favorite John Eustace with Wayne Rooney marked a significant turning point, one that would ultimately prove costly. The documentary clip captures the highly anticipated first encounter between Brady and Rooney, setting the stage for an immediate clash of philosophies.
During their initial interaction, Rooney is seen inviting Brady to a team meeting, to which Brady expresses reluctance, citing a desire not to be a distraction. Rooney’s subsequent offer to discuss plans privately, delivered with a perceived lack of assertiveness, appears to immediately raise red flags for the astute American investor.
Brady’s deep-seated concerns over Rooney’s work ethic and overall demeanor were soon voiced to his business manager, Ben Rawitz. The conversation, also captured in the documentary, features Brady admitting, “I’m a little worried about our head coach’s work ethic,” a sentiment echoed by Rawitz, who described Rooney as “lackadaisical.”
The tension escalated when Brady directly confronted Rooney, drawing parallels between American football and soccer to emphasize his philosophy of demanding intensity. “What’s the difference between [American football] and soccer? Nothing. I treated practice like it was the Super Bowl. Put pressure on them, make them run for everything,” Brady asserted, highlighting a fundamental divergence in their approaches to football management.
Rooney’s tenure at Birmingham City proved to be remarkably short-lived, lasting only three months before he was sacked and replaced by Tony Mowbray. Brady later reflected in the documentary on the advice he had received about avoiding wholesale changes upon entering the club, an admission of regret that underscored the unfortunate outcome of the Rooney experiment.
