Wayne Rooney, the legendary former England captain and Manchester United star, has hit back at criticism from NFL great Tom Brady questioning his work ethic during his brief tenure as Birmingham City manager.

Brady, who holds seven Super Bowl titles and is a minority shareholder in Birmingham, raised concerns about Rooney’s commitment during a documentary feature after visiting the club’s training ground in late 2023.

Rooney, speaking on his new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, called Brady’s comments “very unfair” and expressed deep disappointment. He pointed out that Brady visited the club only once during a lighter training day and suggested that Brady didn’t fully understand football’s unique rhythms.

“Football is not NFL — NFL works for three months a year. Players do need rest as well,” Rooney argued, emphasizing the difference in operational demands between the sports.

The Birmingham Rollercoaster and Rooney’s Perspective

Rooney’s time at Birmingham, which ended in January 2024 after just 15 matches, was marked by turmoil at the club. Taken over by the American consortium Knighthead Capital Management in 2023, with Brady joining as minority owner, Birmingham faced a difficult season that culminated in relegation from the Championship.

Reflecting on his spell, Rooney acknowledged the difficult situation he inherited: “The players weren’t really the players who could take the club forward,” he said, noting that other managers before and after him also struggled.

He praised Brady’s renowned work ethic but questioned the fairness of the public judgment made without full football context. “I respect Tom Brady massively. He is one of the greatest athletes of all time,” Rooney added, recognizing Brady’s achievements despite their differing sports philosophies.

Moving On and Looking Forward

While Brady’s documentary portrayed the 2023-24 Birmingham squad as “lazy and entitled,” Rooney highlighted that the club is now turning a corner under new manager Chris Davies, who led Birmingham to a League One title with a record points tally last season.

Rooney’s newly launched podcast is proving a platform for him to tell his side of the story and clarify misconceptions about his work as a manager.

Rooney’s candid remarks underscore how sports figures from different disciplines can sometimes misinterpret each other’s challenges and demands. His response is a reminder of the complexity of football management and the need for nuanced understanding beyond headline critiques.