It’s not every day you hear Tom Brady open up about regrets—but when he does, people listen.
The NFL icon, who dipped his toes into English football through an investment in Birmingham City, is now speaking candidly about a major misstep: hiring Wayne Rooney as head coach.
This revelation comes from the new Amazon Prime docuseries Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues, a behind-the-scenes look at Brady’s first year with the club—and the chaos that came with it.
Rooney’s Short and Rocky Reign at St Andrews
Wayne Rooney’s time at Birmingham was anything but smooth sailing.
The Manchester United legend only lasted 15 games in charge before he was shown the door in January last year.
His brief spell saw the Blues earn just 10 points from a possible 45, with a record of nine losses and only two wins.
Despite high hopes and big names, it quickly became clear things weren’t clicking.
Brady Admits Doubts Early On
In one revealing moment from the series, Brady is seen visiting the team’s training ground.
After observing Rooney’s session, he leaves unimpressed. While driving off, he confides in his longtime business manager Ben Rawitz: “I’m a little worried about our head coach’s work ethic.”
Rawitz doesn’t hold back either, describing Rooney’s approach as “lackadaisical.”
It’s a stark contrast to the passion and intensity Brady brought to his own sporting career.
A Risky Appointment That Didn’t Pay Off
Rooney came into management straight from playing, starting with Derby County under incredibly difficult circumstances.
Despite financial chaos, he earned respect for keeping the club afloat.
Then came a stint in MLS with D.C. United, which only lasted a year.
So when Birmingham, newly backed by Knighthead Capital and energized by Brady’s involvement, decided to replace popular manager John Eustace with Rooney—even while the club was in play-off contention—it was a bold and controversial move.
In hindsight, it was also the wrong one.
Brady Owns the Mistake
Brady doesn’t shy away from owning his part in the decision.
Speaking in the docuseries, he admits, “I had good advice: ‘Don’t go in there and make sweeping changes.
You guys have time.’ But we made sweeping changes that put us in decline. That was our doing.”
And it wasn’t just the coach under scrutiny.
As the season spiraled and Birmingham were ultimately relegated, Brady had harsh words for the players too.
“They were lazy and entitled, which doesn’t give you much chance to succeed,” he said bluntly.
From Birmingham to Plymouth: A Slight Improvement, But Not a Comeback
After parting ways with Birmingham, Rooney tried to bounce back with a new managerial job at Plymouth Argyle.
While things weren’t as dire, it still wasn’t a glowing success—five wins in 25 matches and another team teetering on the brink of relegation.
Rooney later pointed to the limited time he was given at Birmingham as a key reason for his failure.
“Time is the most precious commodity a manager requires,” he wrote after his departure.
“I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.”
A Hard Lesson in English Football for Brady
For Brady and Knighthead Capital, their first season in the Championship was a reality check.
Their ambitious goal to transform Birmingham into a world-class team was quickly derailed by poor decisions, player attitude, and a coach who may not have been ready for the pressure cooker of English football.
It’s safe to say the documentary won’t just be a glossy sports promo—it looks like it’ll be a brutally honest reflection of a tough year both on and off the pitch.