The 2025 beef between Wayne Rooney and Tom Brady has reignited concerns about English football’s toxic culture. The Birmingham City manager was questioned by Brady, a part-owner of the club, over his work ethic in a documentary that emerged seven months after Rooney’s sacking.
Rooney responded with a reasonable tone, calling Brady “one of, if not the greatest athlete of all time.” However, the incident highlights the deep-seated issues within English football, where players and coaches are expected to be meat-and-potatoes performers who prioritize winning above all else.
The culture has changed little since the 1980s, when ABH (actual bodily harm) was a bookable offense. Today’s high-profile spat between Rooney and Brady is a stark reminder of the need to tackle this problem head-on.
As Tottenham manager Thomas Frank noted after losing to PSG in the biggest cup final on penalties, “the operation succeeded but the patient died.” It’s time for English football to re-evaluate its priorities and adopt a more nuanced approach that values player well-being and performance over toxic rivalries.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/14/wayne-rooney-tom-brady-and-a-serving-of-ultra-processed-beef