Brady Questioning My Work Ethic Was Very Unfair - Rooney

Wayne Rooney says it was "very unfair" of NFL awesome Tom Brady to mobility his activity ethic arsenic caput coach astatine Birmingham City.

Rooney was sacked by Birmingham, wherever Brady is simply a part-owner, aft 83 days successful January 2024.

The erstwhile England skipper was speaking connected a caller podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, which starts connected Friday and will aerial doubly play connected BBC Sounds, YouTube and iPlayer.

Responding to Brady, nan erstwhile Everton and Manchester United striker said he was "really disappointed pinch nan comment".

Brady, who became a number owner astatine Birmingham successful August 2023, queried Rooney's cognition during a documentary pursuing him arsenic he sewage progressive astatine St Andrew's.

In 1 scene, pursuing a sojourn to nan club's training crushed successful November 2023, nan seven-time Super Bowl victor told colleagues he was "a small worried astir our caput coach's activity ethic".

"I deliberation Tom came successful once, which was nan time earlier a crippled wherever nan days are a small spot lighter anyway, and I don't deliberation he really understood shot that well," Rooney said.

"But what he does understand is, he's a difficult worker, we cognize that."

Rooney added: "Football is not NFL – NFL useful for 3 months a year. Players do request remainder arsenic well, truthful I deliberation he's very unfair, nan measurement he's travel retired and portrayed that."

Championship nine Birmingham were taken complete by Knighthead Capital Management LLC successful June 2023, pinch Brady joining 2 months later.

In October 2023, pinch nan squad sitting sixth successful nan Championship, nan caller ownership controversially replaced head John Eustace pinch erstwhile England skipper Rooney.

However, Manchester United's grounds goalscorer only lasted 15 matches successful nan station earlier being replaced aft nan squad had plummeted to 20th successful nan table.

Tony Mowbray succeeded Rooney, but stepped aside, initially connected sick leave, 8 matches into his reign aft being diagnosed pinch bowel cancer. Birmingham, who utilized 7 managers - including caretaker appointments - during nan owners' first 10 months, were relegated to League One astatine nan extremity of nan 2023-24 season.

"When I went into Birmingham, they were successful a messiness really," said Rooney.

"Hence nan truth that nan players weren't really nan players who could return nan nine forward.

"You had Tony Mowbray, Gary Rowett aft me, who besides struggled arsenic well."

In nan summertime of 2024, pinch Chris Davies now installed arsenic manager, Birmingham's caller owners invested £30m successful transfers, an unprecedented fig for League One.

The nine broke nan Football League record for astir points successful a season, finishing apical of League One successful 2024-25 pinch a tally of 111.

"Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively," said Rooney.

"He's 1 of nan greatest, if not nan top athletes of each clip and Birmingham do look for illustration they're getting it correct now, which is bully and I deliberation what they person done is sewage nan players retired that they needed to get out."

In nan aforesaid documentary successful which he queried Rooney's application, Brady besides referred to Birmingham players from that disastrous 2023-24 run arsenic "lazy and entitled".

The first section of The Wayne Rooney Show will beryllium disposable from 06:00 BST connected Friday 15 August - watch connected BBC Sport YouTube, external and iPlayer. Listen connected BBC Sounds.