Tributes paid to ‘giant of the game’ Sir Bobby Charlton after his death at 86
Tributes have flooded in from across the footballing world and beyond for Manchester United and England great Sir Bobby Charlton following his death aged 86.
Birmingham City are an English professional football club based in England second biggest city. The club was formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance.
Birmingham's St. Andrews ground holds nearly 30,000 but their fans haven't witness a great deal of silverware pass through its doors in recent years.
Birmingham City won the League Cup as recently as 2011, but they were relegated to the Championship from the Premier League at the end of that season.
The club initially played their games at Muntz Street, turning professional in 1885.
In 1892, they were invited to join the Football League Second Division.
Then, in 1905, the club took up the name 'Birmingham', moving into St. Andrew's the following year.
Blues had some success decades in the 1920s and 1930s.
Frank Womack, who played for the club from 1908 to 1928, was an inspirational captain as they won the Second Division title in 1920/21. However, Birmingham subsequently struggled in the top flight.
In 1931, they reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2-1 to Second Division club West Bromwich Albion.
Birmingham were relegated in 1939 at the end of the last full season before soccer was suspended because of the Second World War.
Having taken up the club's current name, Birmingham City, in 1943, the team enjoyed a successful period under the guidance of Harry Storer, who was appointed manager in 1945.
With Storer at the helm, the club won the Football League South wartime league.
When the FA Cup resumed following the end of the Second World War, Birmingham City reached the semi-finals at the very first attempt.
Two years later, they won another Second Division title with a stellar defensive record of only 24 goals conceded in 42 matches.
Bob Brocklebank was Storer's successor, and, although he did not manage to guide the team clear of relegation in 1950, he brought in players who would form a key part of a successful Birmingham City side in years to come.
Arthur Turner took over as manager in November 1954, guiding Birmingham City to the Second Division title in 1954/55.
They sealed the triumph with a 5-1 win on the last day of the season.
In their first season back in the First Division, Birmingham City achieved a commendable sixth-place finish - their best-ever in the top flight.
The club also reached the FA Cup final but lost 3-1 to Manchester City.
Birmingham became the first-ever English club to play in a European competition.
They played their first match in the inaugural Inter-Cities Fairs Cup competition on May 15, 1956.
Blues reached the semi-finals, where they drew 4-4 with Barcelona on aggregate, but lost 2-1 in the replay.
They were also the first English club team to reach a European final in 1960 but were thumped 4-1 by Barcelona in the return leg after a goalless first leg.
They reached the same final the following season but lost 4-2 on aggregate to AS Roma.
In 1963, Birmingham City beat fierce local rivals Aston Villa in the final of the League Cup. However, two years later, they were relegated to the second tier.
Birmingham City won promotion back up to the First Division at the end of the 1971/72 season and reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1974/75.
At the end of the 1978/79 season, the Blues were relegated back to Division Two but bounced straight back up the following campaign.
This began a trend of Birmingham bouncing up and down between the top two tiers of English soccer.
They were relegated again at the end of the 1983/84 season, then bounced back up in 1984/85 only to drop down once again at the end of the 1985/86 campaign.
By 1989, Birmingham City had fallen down to the Third Division.
Their financial troubles deepened and the club were put into administration prior to David Sullivan buying it for £700,000 in March 1993.
By this time, they were back in the second tier (then known as Division One).
Relegation followed then promotion the following season.
Birmingham City subsequently stabilised in Division One before winning promotion to the Premier League in 2002 under the guidance of Steve Bruce.
Bruce helped Birmingham City consolidate in mid-table of the Premier League for the following three seasons, with the club finishing 13th, 10th and 12th respectively.
However, at the end of the 2005/06 season, they were relegated back to the Championship after finishing 18th.
Bruce took the club straight back up to the Premier League via automatic promotion at the end of the 2006/07 season.
Carson Yeung became Birmingham City's majority shareholder in July 2007 and Bruce left the following November.
He was replaced by Alex McLeish, who was unable to stave off relegation, but won promotion the following season.
The 2010/11 season saw Blues beat Arsenal 2-1 in the final of the League Cup - only to get relegated to the Championship later the same season. They have remained in the second tier ever since.
The former England skipper replaced Eustace after leaving DC United at the start of October 2023.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City at such an exciting time. It is very clear that they have a plan and are committed to realising their ambition for the club,” said the ex-Manchester United striker.
“We are fully aligned on what is expected. I have been building my managerial career, putting myself in challenging environments, to get me ready for this opportunity. It’s a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can’t wait to get started.
“We have some exciting young players in the squad, and some who are still to break through into the First Team, alongside a core of experienced senior professionals.
“I have a clear way that I want the team to play, and my coaching staff and I will work hard to implement it. We will create a winning culture here with an identity that gets Blues fans on their feet.”
Former England team-mate Ashley Cole, currently England Under-21s assistant coach, and John O’Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland, joined Rooney in Birmingham while keeping the roles with their national sides
Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth, who both worked with Rooney at DC United, also moved to St Andrew’s.
Birmingham co-owner and chairman Wagner said: “Wayne is a born winner. We believe, with the support of his coaching staff, the club, and our supporters, he will take Blues forward on the next stage of our journey.
“His playing philosophy will help to realise the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.
“Wayne has been preparing for an opportunity like this since he embarked on his coaching education whilst still a player at Manchester United. He and his staff have the full support of the board and everyone at the football club.”
Rooney was relegated with Derby in 2022, having battled a 21-point deduction for entering administration and breaching EFL accounting rules.
He quit soon after and joined DC United in July 2022, leaving in early October after failing to reach the MLS play-offs.
Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook said: “We are incredibly excited by Wayne’s arrival. When the opportunity presents itself to appoint a manager who shares your ambition and is both a student and a great of the game, then you act. This is what we have done.
“We are confident that his appointment, supported by his hand-picked coaching staff, will culminate in a young, attack-minded team that will excite our fans.
“The timing of the appointment will allow Wayne to evaluate the playing staff and work with Craig Gardner (sporting director) on the squad’s recruitment needs ahead of the January and Summer transfer windows. This is a defining moment for the club.”
Birmingham City's main rivals are second city neighbours Aston Villa.
Blue also have rivalries with midlands sides Wolves and West Brom.
Former Blues managers Alex McLeish and Steve Bruce have both had spells in charge at Villa Park.
Blues have been owned by China-based Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited since 2016 after taking over from the controversial Carson Yeung.
The new prospective part-owners are to purchase 24% of shares from Blues' parent company Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited, plus 21.64% of shares which will be transferred from Oriental Rainbow Investments and Achiever Global Group.
Wagner's company Shelby Companies Limited will also take ownership of St Andrew's, the club's home since 1906.
Shelby Companies Limited completed the takeover of Birmingham in July and in August, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady became a minority owner in the club.
Birmingham posted a pre-tax loss of £4.7million for the year ending June 2021, down from £18.3m the previous year, mainly due to the sale of teenager Jude Bellingham.
Tributes have flooded in from across the footballing world and beyond for Manchester United and England great Sir Bobby Charlton following his death aged 86.
Wayne Rooney has emphasised how much he is relishing the challenge he has taken on as boss of a Birmingham outfit with sights very much set on the Premier League.
Wayne Rooney has joined Birmingham City as the club's new manager after signing a three-and-a-half year deal.
Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook has vowed to turn the club into a powerhouse of English football amid rumours Wayne Rooney is about to take over as manager.
Wayne Rooney could be on the way to Birmingham City after the Championship club sacked head coach John Eustace.
Birmingham City and West Brom renew Championship rivalries at St Andrew’s on Friday.
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