Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick will provide his ex-Manchester United and England teammate Wayne Rooney with his first test as Birmingham City boss.
The decision-much to the derision of the footballing world it has to be said-to sack John Eustace from his post as manager of Birmingham became a little clearer today as the club website announced Wayne Rooney will take charge of the Blues on a three-and-a-half year contract.
Eustace, who was once a Boro player on loan from Coventry, was relieved of his duties earlier this week despite taking the Blues into the play-off places in their first eleven games. From season after season of mediocre mid-to-lower league finishes, it is difficult to see how much more they could have expected from their manager this campaign.
Statement outlines club’s ambition
In a statement on the club’s website, Birmingham CEO Garry Cook blamed a ‘misalignment with the leadership of the club’ but thanked Eustace for his ‘hard work’ and said he will be ‘forever remembered’ by Blues fans for saving them from relegation last season.
It is a stark reminder of the precarious nature of the role as manager or head coach of a football club and further highlights the importance of remaining patient where possible, just like Boro have done with Michael Carrick.
In Birmingham’s case, it was clear that they wanted a big name to go with their big ambition, and names don’t come much bigger than Wayne Rooney. Whether it is the right decision can only be measured in time, he will certainly have a tough test in his first match as boss of Birmingham, as he faces a Middlesbrough outfit who have found their stride in recent weeks, beating Southampton, Watford, Cardiff and Sunderland.
Carrick and Wayne Rooney played together at United for over ten years and also played in many an England side alongside one another. They have actually already been in contact this season regarding the loan transfer of Lewis O’Brien who spent time with Rooney at DC United, with Rooney offering his take on the Forest midfielder’s attributes.
They will surely catch up post-match too, but business is business and Carrick will be desperate to get one over on his former colleague, but more importantly, he will want to get another three points on the board for Boro and keep them climbing the Championship ladder.