Dressing room leak reveals what players really thought of Wayne Rooney

The abrupt departure of Wayne Rooney from his managerial role at Birmingham City has stirred revelations regarding the sentiments within the team’s dressing room towards the former England and Manchester United star.

Rooney’s appointment as Birmingham manager in October last year, replacing John Eustace, was met with mixed reactions. The initial discontent surrounding his selection persisted amid a disappointing start under the 38-year-old’s leadership.

The chants of disapproval directed at Wayne Rooney by Birmingham fans during Monday’s 3-0 defeat against Leeds United seemed to reflect the growing disillusionment.

Following this, Tuesday brought confirmation of Rooney’s dismissal, marking the end of his tenure after a mere 15 matches at the helm.

Insights into the players’ sentiments toward Rooney have surfaced from purported leaks within the Birmingham City dressing room. The Athletic reported that despite the team’s struggles and public criticism from the manager, Rooney wasn’t widely unpopular among his players.

However, Rooney’s occasional questioning of the squad’s mental strength, abilities, and personal pride reportedly stung some of the players.

Additionally, it was noted that Rooney wasn’t extensively involved in training sessions, with the majority of the training responsibilities led by his assistants Carl Robinson and John O’Shea, while Ashley Cole primarily managed set-piece drills.

Following his dismissal, Rooney expressed gratitude to Tom Wagner, Tom Brady, and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City.

He acknowledged the results-driven nature of football and conceded that the outcomes did not meet his expectations in the brief period he had with the club.