Brady's teammate, Rooney, expressed his disappointment.
In the world of football, tensions can run high, and the 2023-24 season at Birmingham City FC was no exception. The clip of Tom Brady, a minority owner of the club, expressing concerns about Wayne Rooney's work ethic during Rooney's tenure as manager quickly spread on social media, sparking many comments.
The concerns were aired in the 2025 Amazon Prime documentary series, Built in Birmingham: Brady & The Blues, which launched in July 2025. Brady, a former football star and current minority owner of Birmingham City, expressed his worries about Rooney's work ethic after meeting him for the first time as manager. He also criticised some players from that season as "lazy and entitled," stating that such attitudes contributed to Birmingham's relegation to League One.
Rooney managed the club for only 83 days before being replaced, and Brady indicated a need to overhaul both coaching and player personnel to reset the team's fortunes. The documentary series provides an insight into Brady’s involvement and perspective on the club, including his direct assessments of Rooney and the players during that turbulent period.
The strained dynamic between Rooney and Brady is evident in the comments, at least from Brady's perspective. Rooney has publicly expressed his disappointment with Brady’s comments, indicating some public disagreement about the portrayal of their working relationship.
Regarding the manager-player relationship, Rooney, at 39 years old, expressed his high regard for Brady, calling him "one of the greatest, if not the greatest, athletes of all time." However, he also acknowledged that the demands of football are different from those in the NFL, and players need rest.
Despite his separation from Birmingham City, Rooney has no intention of dwelling on it. Birmingham City smoothly climbed from the third to the second tier of English football last season, thanks to investor millions. The club is now looking to figure out what's best for them moving forward.
In the documentary series, Brady is followed by cameras during his visits to the team's training and a tactical meeting led by Rooney. The criticism was made public through a clip from the documentary series, Built in Birmingham: Brady & The Blues.
Wayne Rooney, a football icon, has responded to the criticism made by Tom Brady in 2023. Although he was disappointed by the comment, he acknowledged the need for Birmingham City to find the best solution for their future. Despite the challenges faced during his brief tenure as manager, Rooney remains respectful of Brady and his achievements in sports.
