Birmingham player reveals what surprised him most about Wayne Rooney during disastrous spell as manager

A Birmingham City player has revealed what surprised him the most during Wayne Rooney’s time in charge of the club.

After leaving MLS team DC United back in October, former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney was named manager of Birmingham.

But the appointment proved to be disastrous, as the Blues dropped from sixth to 20th place in the Championship.

Rooney eventually lost his job at Birmingham in January, having only managed 15 games.

In an interview with former Blues custodian Ben Foster during the most recent episode of The Fozcast, John Ruddy disclosed the most unexpected fact about Rooney.

Foster enquired, “What was his character and demeanour like? As players, we all obviously know what Wayne Rooney was like. What was he like as a manager? He was all motion, like a bull, and happy to loose his rag at any time.

“That’s the biggest thing that surprised me,” Ruddy retorted. “He was the complete opposite.”

In fairness, he made reference to it in a few meetings after realising that, as a player, he was perhaps too impetuous most of the time.

The goalie went on: “And when he took over as manager, he made sure he was more mindful and succinct in the way he spoke with individuals and provided information.

“I think there were a few instances where he really ought to have lost it, but he made an effort to maintain composure and stick to the image of a manager, so that was the biggest surprise to me,” the speaker said.

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After being sacked in January, Rooney returned to management last month after he was confirmed as Plymouth Argyle’s new head coach.

Rooney told the club’s official website: “Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the Chairman and Board for the faith they have shown in me.

“This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.”

Wayne Rooney settles the Sir Alex Ferguson vs Pep Guardiola GOAT debate once and for all

Wayne Rooney definitively resolves the Sir Alex Ferguson vs. Pep Guardiola GOAT controversy.

Wayne Rooney explains why, in the “greatest of all time” discussion, Sir Alex Ferguson is superior to Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola and Ferguson will both go down in history for having had such a profound impact on our game.

One won three Scottish Premier Division championships, a European Cup Winners’ Cup with Aberdeen, and an astounding thirteen league trophies at Manchester United, the reigning champions.

For over ten years, the other has ruled European football, winning titles with teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City—who just won the Premier League for the fourth time in a row.

And who wins in the end?The one reason Rooney thinks his old manager surpasses Guardiola is because of his achievements with Aberdeen from 1978 to 1986.

Guardiola has risen to the top by collaborating with some of the greatest players in the world, such as Lionel Messi, but there have been concerns expressed about whether he could lead a club without such players.

“I think of course there are going to be arguments as to who is better, but I think people tend to just look at what Sir Alex did at Manchester United, and what he did at Aberdeen was incredible,” Rooney stated to ESPN Brasil.

And one would wonder if Guardiola could perform that well at a team like Aberdeen. There are arguments and doubts, but in my opinion, Guardiola is the greatest of his generation and has revolutionised football play across the globe.

“But yeah for me Sir Alex, what he achieved in the game is incredible.”

Rightfully so, Rooney has praised Ferguson in the past. However, the all-time leading goalscorer for United stated that he worked under “tactically the best” manager in Louis van Gaal.

“I thought tactically he was the best I’ve worked with when he came in, Louis van Gaal,” Rooney remarked on the Sky Bet-sponsored Stick to Football podcast.

“The players found it challenging to deal with him on things off the field, but I recall him telling them that he wanted his centre forward to get 15, 20, or more touches every game, and [Erling] Haaland accomplishes just that.

“I always wanted to play and enjoy the game—and score goals,” Rooney continued.

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