Even though Wayne Rooney joined the Blues this week, things might have turned out differently if Tom Wagner had scored on another target in the summer.
This week, Wayne Rooney was named Birmingham City’s new head coach, ushering in a new era for the team.
Just days after leaving MLS team D.C. United after failing to advance them to the Eastern Conference play-offs, the England legend signed a three-and-a-half year contract with St Andrew’s in a move that had been anticipated for more than a month.
The decision to part company with previous boss John Eustace, who steadied the ship last season and left the club insixth position in the Championship ahead of the international break, has been a controversial one – specifically the timing of it.
That would have been under Chris Kirchner’s ownership, but the controversial businessman never pressed ahead with his plan to buy the Rams, and a year later Cook arrived at Birmingham under new owner Tom Wagner.
The American hedge fund manager, who is the founder of Knighthead Capital Management, has also brought NFL superstar Tom Brady on board at the Blues since his arrival over the summer, and he is clearly interested in big names, hence why Rooney is now on board.
But it could have been all-so different if Wagner and co perhaps landed one of their targets in the summer, and it has also suggested that letting Eustace go was always on the cards.
Who were Birmingham City considering appointing as manager in the summer?
According to a report from The Times, a big name that was considered to come in and potentially take over from Eustace was that of Rafael Benitez, who himself has been in the Championship before and won the title with Newcastle United.
However, having been out of work for a year-and-a-half since his departure from Everton in January 2022, the Spaniard was hired by La Liga outfit Celta Vigo in his home country in late June.
Whilst Wagner’s takeover was agreed in May, official approval didn’t come through until July, so that could have perhaps been a road block for a potential Benitez appointment.
However, if given the choice of the two clubs, the 63-year-old was always likely going to choose Celta Vigo.
Would Birmingham City have made a wise choice in Rafael Benitez?
When Benitez joined the Blues in 2017, there may have been a hint of Harry Redknapp in the high-profile appointment.
Redknapp spent a lot of money and had a very poor reign as City’s manager, but you’d think Wagner and company would want to be a little more cautious given their recent entry into English football.
Rooney is their new high-profile hire, but considering Benitez’s record, perhaps he was a touch too hopeful.
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