Wayne Rooney sacked by Birmingham City after 83 days

Wayne Rooney has been sacked as manager of Birmingham City after just 83 days in charge, with the club slipping towards the relegation zone of the Championship.

The club announced his departure on 2 January, after a run of 15 matches that brought two wins, four draws and nine defeats, leaving Blues 20th in the table.

A dramatic appointment

Rooney's appointment in October was one of the most talked-about decisions of the season. The club sacked head coach John Eustace on 9 October with the team sixth in the Championship, saying it wanted a manager who could create a "no fear" style of play across the club.

Two days later, Rooney, England's former record goalscorer and Manchester United's all-time top scorer, was appointed, leaving his job at DC United in the United States. His coaching staff included his former England teammate Ashley Cole and John O'Shea.

Many supporters were unhappy at the treatment of Eustace, who was popular with fans after steadying the club in difficult times, and results under Rooney quickly fell away.

"Results have not met expectations"

The club said: "Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the outset. Therefore, the Board feels that a change in management is in the best interests of the Football Club."

Rooney said: "Football is a results business - and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed."

First-team coach Carl Robinson has also left the club. Professional development coach Steve Spooner will take charge on an interim basis, including for the FA Cup third-round tie at Hull City.

New owners, big ambitions

The sacking is the latest twist in an eventful first season under new ownership. Last summer, Knighthead Capital Management, led by its co-founder Tom Wagner, took control of the club's operations, bringing optimism after years of turmoil. Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady joined as a minority owner and chair of the advisory board.

The new owners have set out big ambitions for the club, and supporters had begun the season full of hope. The team were unbeaten in their first few games under Eustace.

What next

The owners now need to find their third manager of the season, and to get it right. The club is in a relegation battle, with the gap to the bottom three narrowing, and the January transfer window has just opened.

Birmingham City have spent almost three decades above the third tier of English football, and the priority now is to make sure they stay in the Championship.

For Rooney, the sacking is a setback in a managerial career that began at Derby County, where he impressed many by keeping the club competitive despite severe financial problems.