- Wayne Rooney is targeting immediate promotion as the new Birmingham boss
Wayne Rooney has targeted immediate promotion to the Premier League after he was unveiled as Birmingham’s new manager on Thursday.
The former Manchester United and England captain has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at St Andrew’s and takes his second role in English football after a stint with crisis-torn Derby between 2020 and 2021.
He said: ‘We will push for promotion this year of course. With the players we brought in during the summer, it’s an ambition of ours. It’s something we will certainly push for. The goal is to get the club back to the Premier League.’
Rooney left DC United after failing to get the US club into the Major League Soccer play-offs and replaces John Eustace in the dugout.
The 37-year-old revealed that he had received approaches from other clubs in England but decided Birmingham – co-owned by NFL great Tom Brady – was his best option. Rooney took his first training session on Thursday, arriving at the club’s base at about 7am.
He added: ‘To get back into English football is great. I have had opportunities over the last 4-6 weeks to do that but after speaking to Birmingham and seeing the ambition of the club, it excites me.
‘There is more pressure which I love. I love the fact we are in sixth in the league and I love the challenge.
‘I have dealt with pressure since I was a kid so it’s nothing new. It might be new to some of the players so I might have to get them ready for that. There are tough games coming up, and I can’t wait.’
More to follow…
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