Wayne Rooney secured his first victory as the manager of Birmingham City in a thrilling 2-1 comeback win against Sheffield Wednesday, who are currently struggling in the league.
Rooney, the former manager of D.C. United, has faced difficulties since taking charge of Birmingham. The team’s performance and the fans’ support have not been in his favor. Despite being in sixth place in the Championship, the club decided to dismiss their previous manager, John Eustace, due to a disagreement with the club’s leadership in early October.
As Birmingham’s winless streak under Rooney continued, some fans expressed their frustration by telling the former Manchester United star to go back to America. The situation seemed dire for the West Midlands team when George Byers scored, giving Sheffield Wednesday the lead. However, Juninho Bacuna equalized just before halftime, giving Birmingham hope.
Finally, in the crucial moments of the game, substitute Jordan James scored the winning goal nine minutes before the end of the match at St Andrews, securing the much-needed three points for Birmingham City.
Tom Brady, an NFL icon and minority owner at Birmingham, expressed his excitement when Bacuna equalized against Wednesday. As the chairman of the club’s advisory board, the 46-year-old tweeted, “All about the Blues today. Banger.”
The era of Rooney at Birmingham has been filled with tension and disappointment so far. Many believe that he was appointed as manager because the club wanted a well-known figure in charge. Now that he has achieved his first victory as manager, his task is to motivate the team and prove his ability to succeed on the sidelines in the Championship.
Throughout Rooney’s managerial career, his win percentage stands at a mere 26.6% after stints at Derby County, D.C. United, and Birmingham.
Rooney’s Birmingham will face Blackburn Rovers in their next match on Wednesday. He will be hoping to secure a second win to enhance his managerial record.
