Wayne Rooney has left his position at DC United (Picture: Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney is being lined-up to take over as Birmingham City manager and he is likely to bring Ashley Cole and John O’Shea with him, according to reports.
The Blues have been doing well in the Championship but have chosen to sack manager John Eustace despite sitting sixth in the table after 11 games, confirming his dismissal on Monday morning.
The American owners are keen on bringing in Rooney and now the Manchester United legend has left his role with DC United, a move looks likely.
The BBC report that Rooney won’t be the only big name to arrive at St Andrews, but his former England teammate Ashley Cole and former Manchester United teammate John O’Shea will come with him.
Cole has been coaching the England Under-21 side, while O’Shea is currently assistant coach with Republic of Ireland.
It will be an unusual time for a new coaching staff to take over, with Birmingham having won their last two games, against Huddersfield and West Brom, with fans seemingly behind Eustace.
Rooney is returning to the UK (Picture: Getty)
With the Rooney speculation swirling, Eustace has been linked with the vacant Rangers job, but he had been trying to focus on the Birmingham job while he could.
‘It’s all speculation,’ Eustace said before his dismissal. ‘I am not interested in any other job than Birmingham City. I am very, very happy here. I came here 14 months ago now and I signed a three-year deal to try and help rebuild this fantastic football club and get it back where it should be.
‘We are coming up to half way in doing that. I think there has been fantastic progress in the last 14 or 15 months and I want to continue with that progress and see this club fly. It’s my job to worry about the club. That’s all I care about.’
DC United beat New York City FC 2-0 in their final game of the MLS season and in his post-match press conference Rooney announced he had decided to step down from his role as head coach after just 15 months, with the striker keen to return to the UK and spend more time with his family.
‘I think it’s just the right time. I think I’ve done everything I can to try and get the club into the Playoffs. And it’s no single thing which has happened, it’s about timing in your career,’ explained the 37-year-old.
‘I’ve really enjoyed my time here, I’ve had a lot of help from the owners. Everyone around the club has been a great help to me.
Ashley Cole has been working as a coach with England Under-21s (Picture: Getty Images)
‘But I just feel it’s the right time for me to go back to England. Firstly, obviously, to see my family, I haven’t seen them for a long time.
‘And then what lies ahead, I don’t know. Whether opportunities come up… I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media but I’m going back there with nothing lined up.
‘I’m going back there to see my family, and if something comes up in October, November then of course I’ll look at it.
‘But from my point of view I’ve enjoyed my time here. I think it’s helped me and will help me a lot moving forward as a coach. And I just want to say on record to everyone involved with the club – staff, players – I’m grateful and I wish them nothing but success in the future.’
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