Wayne Rooney's tenure as Birmingham City manager ended abruptly after a 3-0 defeat by Leeds United at Elland Road, marking their ninth loss in 15 games since his appointment in October. Despite former Birmingham City boss Steve Cotterill's endorsement to stay with Rooney, the team has struggled under his leadership, only managing to secure six points from their last nine games and remaining in 20th place. Rooney, who was brought in by CEO Garry Cook with the ambition of making Birmingham a 'football powerhouse' and to implement 'no fear football', has only won two of his 15 Championship matches. His time at Birmingham has been described as an 'unmitigated disaster' and one of the worst managerial records of former England players. The board has been criticized for their decision to sack a successful manager, John Eustace, to appoint Rooney, with no public admission of board-room culpability. Rooney, who was given a 3.5-year deal, has now been sacked after failing to win 13 of his 15 games. Kalvin Phillips was present to watch the match.
Wayne Rooney has not had a break since 2002. His exit from Birmingham City gives him a chance to take some time off, breathe a bit and discover the world outside football. @NickMiller79 on what Rooney should do next...
BBC Sport forced to delete a bizarre tweet mocking up Wayne Rooney in a Peaky Blinders outfit after his sacking by Birmingham City - after a demand by Gary Lineker https://t.co/79is1hdWfR https://t.co/mf5Q8Eszwr
Just reading Garry Cook's comments on Wayne Rooney's dismissal. Can't find anywhere any admission of board-room culpability for getting rid of a popular, successful head coach in John Eustace in the first place. #BCFC
Wayne Rooney was a disaster as Birmingham manager. And yet even he isn't to blame as much as the board who, in a hubristic failure, sacked a successful manager to appoint him: https://t.co/X1VRM6w8zy
Wayne Rooney has one of the worst managerial records of former players from England's golden generation π¬ https://t.co/kyoxNiYFnC
"An unmitigated disaster" Rob Dorsett discusses Wayne Rooney's time as Birmingham manager π£οΈ https://t.co/5ITDpowbwY
Hard to see where Wayne Rooney goes in management after this. Could be the end of the road https://t.co/cBNtw2yaHt
An utterly miserable 15 game tenure at St. Andrewβs for Wayne Rooney. https://t.co/kpveGAvStk
βThis is on the owners!β βΌοΈ βThere was nothing about this that smacked of anything other than autograph hunting!β Simon Jordan reacts to Wayne Rooney being sacked at #BCFC after just 15 games. π³π΅ https://t.co/Z8gbW1eNC3
The Rooney experiment at #bcfc has come to an end. He was tasked with 'taking the Blues forward on the next stage of their journey' but with just two wins out of 15 it hasn't worked out. Confirmation expected soon π https://t.co/K5dEXR8kRb
Wayne Rooney, whose arrival at #BCFC was described as a 'defining moment for the football club' by CEO Garry Cook as part of his ambition to make the club a 'football powerhouse', has been sacked He won two of his 15 Championship matches in charge https://t.co/7cBN1TzxvT
Kalvin Phillips returns to Elland Road to watch Leeds thrash Wayne Rooney's Birmingham Read more π https://t.co/dDdaT0aJas
Wayne Rooney brutally mocked by Leeds fans as nightmare Birmingham reign continues Read here π https://t.co/NUFvYeoQ1l
Wayne Rooney's beleaguered reign at Birmingham City took another turn for the worse at Elland Road as his side suffered a 3-0 defeat by Leeds β their ninth loss in 15 games since his appointment in October Read the full report β¬οΈ https://t.co/2ZIxDHoFgu
Kalvin Phillips returns to Elland Road to watch Leeds thrash Wayne Rooney's Birmingham More below π https://t.co/dDdaT0abkU
Wayne Rooney brutally mocked by Leeds fans as nightmare Birmingham reign continues Full story π https://t.co/NUFvYepnQT
'The best thing Birmingham City can do is stay with Wayne Rooney and ride it out.' π€ Former Birmingham City boss Steve Cotterill gives his backing to under pressure Wayne Rooney π΅ #BBCFootball #BBCEFL #BCFC https://t.co/1xv3oaXy1q
Leeds United 3-0 Birmingham City: Blues have only taken six points from their last nine games and remain in 20th place. https://t.co/tpfABIBvcp
Wayne Rooney has now failed to win 13 of his 15 Championship games in charge of Birmingham. Garry Cook, the CEO who hired him, tasked Rooney with bringing "no fear football", which Rooney has no record of coaching, as far as I can see. 3.5 year deal. Eek. https://t.co/YUUhvhIn7B
Ampadu so close to a fourth, with Leeds queueing up in City's box. Ruddy gets fingertips to it and pushes the shot over. 3-0 on 90+3. #lufc
Four minutes added. Leeds too strong for Birmingham today. Not really sure what Birmingham are supposed to be. Very powder puff. 3-0. #lufc
Leeds sub: Rutter (strong performance from him) off, Poveda on. 86th min. #lufc
HT: Leeds 2 Birmingham 0. #lufc
Bacuna with a shot from miles out after Ampadu accidentally sends a Rodon clearance back towards Leeds' box. Effort goes way over the bar. 0-0 on 28 mins. #lufc
Rodon saves the day with one of his covering runs, across to dispossess Dembele after Dembele gets away from Cooper and carries a through ball into the box. Rodon been the pick of the Leeds players so far this half. 0-0 on 24 mins. #lufc
Bamford with a shot on the turn, from an angle which makes it difficult to beat Ruddy and Ruddy takes it safely. 0-0 on 13 mins. #lufc
Chance - Good interplay between Byram and Summerville, gets Rutter into space 18 yards out but the box is crowded and his low effort it blocked. 0-0 on 11 mins. #lufc
Birmingham kick off and we're underway at Elland Road. A serenade for Rooney too...#lufc
Wayne Rooney at full time at Elland Road today https://t.co/UvHFTMnH5e