Former England striker Wayne Rooney has responded to comments made by Tom Brady, the legendary NFL quarterback, about their brief spell working together at Birmingham City FC. In an interview with a documentary that explores their time at the club, Brady questioned Rooney’s work ethic as manager of Birmingham.
However, Rooney fired back in a statement, saying he believes Brady misunderstood football. “Football is not like the NFL,” Rooney said. “Players need rest and breaks throughout the season.” He also criticized Brady’s portrayal of Birmingham players, describing them as “lazy and entitled.”
Rooney acknowledged that Brady has experience playing over several months of the year, which might make it difficult for him to understand the demands of football. Despite their differences, Rooney expressed respect for Brady as an athlete and welcomed the investment made by his consortium in the club.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/14/wayne-rooney-hits-back-tom-brady-football-birmingham-city-work-ethic