Wayne Rooney ‘will appoint two old team-mates to his coaching staff at Birmingham’ if he lands the Blues job – with the Man United and England icon the clear frontrunner to replace John Eustace should he leave St Andrew’s

Wayne Rooney has targeted two former team-mates as part of his coaching staff for his next job, after being linked with becoming Birmingham City’s new boss. 

Rooney left his post with MLS club DC United over the weekend following their failure to make the play-offs and is already on the radar of Championship club Birmingham. 

The 37-year-old is a leading contender to replace current boss John Eustace if he were to leave the club for the vacant post at Rangers. While several Premier League clubs are also said to be watching Eustace’s progress. 

With Rooney set to make his next move in management, he will reportedly take two familiar faces with him as part of his backroom set-up, as he looks to bring in Ashley Cole and John O’Shea into his coaching team. 

Rooney played with Cole for England and spent many years alongside O’Shea for Manchester United and BBC 5 Live has claimed a deal is in place for the pair to join the former Derby boss in a new-look coaching team at St Andrews. 

Ashley Cole and John O’Shea could be part of a new-look coaching set up headed by Rooney 

Cole moved into coaching following his retirement in 2019, first taking a role at Derby before working with Chelsea’s academy and the England U21s. 

He was appointed first-team coach at Everton under Frank Lampard, but returned to the England U21 set-up after Lampard lost his job and helped the Three Lions to Euros glory this summer. 

While O’Shea has previously had coaching roles with Stoke and Reading and is currently assistant to Stephen Kelly for the Republic of Ireland national team. 

Birmingham are currently sixth in the Championship table having enjoyed an impressive start to the season under Eustace, leading to his name to be linked with a number of more high-profile jobs. 

Rooney has been linked with replacing Birmingham boss John Eustace if he leaves the club 

Rooney’s name is the front-runner the role if Eustace does leave, with new owners Knighthead Capital, led by Tom Wagner keen on a bigger name in charge. 

He had been manager at DC United since July 2022 and on leaving the post the former England striker said; ‘It’s the right time. I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the play-offs. It’s not a single thing that’s happened. It’s about timing.

What lies ahead, I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media. I’m going back with nothing lined up. I want to say on record to everyone involved in the club. Staff, players: I’m grateful.’