Wayne Rooney appointed new manager of Birmingham City

Wayne Rooney has been appointed as the new manager of Birmingham City. The former England captain is back in English football after a stint in charge of DC United

NEW APPOINTMENT: Wayne Rooney has been announced as the new manager of Birmingham City. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire

Wayne Rooney said he plans to “elevate Birmingham City to the next level” after being appointed the Championship club’s new manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract. Rooney replaces John Eustace, who was sacked on Monday.

In a statement confirming Rooney’s appointment on Wednesday, Garry Cook, Birmingham’s chief executive, described the 37-year-old’s arrival as a “defining moment” in their history. “When the opportunity presents itself to appoint a manager who shares your ambition and is both a student and a great of the game, then you act,” Cook said. “This is what we have done.”