Will Tom Brady and Birmingham Seek Another Big Name After Wayne Rooney Flop? Lessons From Wrexham’s Fairytale

The world of football has always thrived on big names, bold appointments, and the power of narrative. For Birmingham City, a club that has lived through turbulence, transformation, and, most recently, triumph, those narratives have come thick and fast. With NFL icon Tom Brady involved in the club’s ownership structure and Knighthead Capital steering the project at St Andrew’s, the appetite for ambition is obvious.

But after the high-profile Wayne Rooney experiment ended in disaster, Birmingham now finds itself facing a crucial question: will they chase another headline-grabbing figure, or stick to the model that has just delivered them the League One title?

Wayne Rooney’s Short-Lived Tenure at Birmingham

When Knighthead Capital took control of Birmingham in 2023, one of their first statements of intent was bold — appointing Wayne Rooney as head coach. On paper, it looked like a blockbuster move. A Manchester United and England legend in charge of a storied Midlands club, with Tom Brady serving as a global ambassador: the script practically wrote itself.

In reality, it quickly fell apart. Rooney’s tenure lasted just 83 days, across 15 games, before it became clear the gamble wasn’t paying off. Results were poor, performances uninspiring, and the sense that this was more of a branding exercise than a footballing decision never really went away. By January 2024, the plug had been pulled, and Birmingham’s flirtation with star-power management ended in relegation from the Championship.

That crash was brutal, but it forced the club to reset. And in the end, relegation may have been the making of Birmingham’s modern story.

Chris Davies and the Rebirth of Birmingham City

Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues documentary

With Rooney gone, Birmingham turned to a different profile of coach — younger, hungrier, and without the baggage of celebrity status. Chris Davies was tasked with the rebuild, and he delivered in spectacular fashion.

The 2024-25 season saw Birmingham storm to the League One title with a staggering 111 points, finishing ahead of the much-celebrated Wrexham project. Davies not only restored pride on the pitch but also reconnected with a fanbase that had grown weary of experiments and quick fixes.

Cameron Jerome, the former Birmingham striker, summed it up well when speaking to GOAL: “They learned from Rooney. It was their first real decision as new owners, and it didn’t work. But they reset, trusted Davies, and he achieved exactly what was needed.”

Now, with Davies tied to a contract through 2028 and an unbeaten start to the Championship season already under his belt, Birmingham are entering a new chapter — one where stability and results may finally outweigh the pull of a famous name.

Will Tom Brady and Birmingham Look for Another Big Name?

Wayne Rooney Birmingham

The Rooney appointment raised eyebrows across football, not least because it appeared to prioritise marketing value over managerial credentials. With Tom Brady’s global influence attached to the club, it seemed logical to assume Birmingham would look to leverage high-profile names to expand their brand.

But after the bruising Rooney saga, has that approach been abandoned? Jerome believes so. He explained: “When you’re putting in the kind of money the owners are, you want control. They’ve realised it’s not about chasing a celebrity manager — it’s about finding the right person who fits the project. That’s what Davies represents.”

That doesn’t mean Birmingham will stop thinking big. Their off-field ambitions are clear, with an Amazon Prime documentary series already helping to grow their profile internationally. The difference this time may be balance — ensuring the footballing side isn’t compromised for the sake of the commercial one.

Lessons From Wrexham’s Fairytale

It’s impossible to ignore the shadow cast by Wrexham’s Hollywood ownership. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have turned the Welsh club into a global phenomenon, blending entertainment and sport in a way that few thought possible. For Birmingham, the parallels are tempting — both clubs have ambitious backers, both are looking to grow their global footprint, and both have rich histories rooted in working-class communities.

But as Jerome points out, the situations are not identical. “Wrexham is more of a fairytale. Birmingham has been to the Premier League, won a major trophy in the League Cup, and gone through real financial struggles. Their ownership group has different goals. They’ll take inspiration from Wrexham but also look to surpass it.”

That ambition means Birmingham are not content with just being a feel-good story. They want to return to the top flight, and they want to do it in a sustainable way.

Birmingham’s Bright Start to Life Back in the Championship

The early signs suggest that Birmingham have learned their lessons. Three games into the 2025-26 season, they remain unbeaten, collecting seven points and showing the kind of resilience that bodes well for a promotion challenge.

The fans are responding, too. St Andrew’s feels like a fortress again, with the mood transformed from the despair of relegation to the optimism of a project moving forward. Davies has brought tactical clarity, young talent is emerging, and the club has rediscovered its identity.

Their rivalry with Wrexham — renewed on October 3 when they head to North Wales — promises to be one of the Championship’s headline stories. But beyond the narrative, Birmingham’s focus remains on consistency, stability, and progress.

Conclusion: Football First, Names Second

So, will Tom Brady and Birmingham seek another ‘name’ after Wayne Rooney’s flop? The answer seems to be no — at least not in the same way. Lessons have been learned, scars remain, and the current success under Chris Davies is proof that substance trumps celebrity.

That doesn’t mean Birmingham will shy away from ambition or from leveraging Brady’s global pull. But if their recent history has taught them anything, it’s that big names don’t win points — managers who understand the Championship grind do.

For now, Birmingham’s focus is firmly on Davies, on promotion, and on writing their own story. The Wrexham fairytale may inspire them, but at St Andrew’s, the belief is growing that their tale could be even bigger.