Rooney Aims To End Birmingham City’s Long Absence From Premier League
Wayne Rooney says his aim is to get Birmingham City playing in the Premier League as soon as possible.
Earlier this week, Manchester United's record goalscorer was appointed manager of the Blues on a three-and-half-year contract.
Rooney has previously spent time in the Championship playing for and then managing Derby County before leaving for DC United in the Major League Soccer.
Birmingham City last played in the top flight in 2011 and currently lie sixth on the Championship table.
Rooney has already set sights on taking the club back to the upper echelons of England's football pyramid.
Speaking at a press conference at the Saint Andrew's stadium, Rooney said: “I think for myself firstly to get back into English football is great, it’s what I’ve wanted to do.
“I’ve had opportunities over the last four, six weeks at other clubs as well, to do that. But I think since speaking to Birmingham and seeing the ambitions of the club, where they want to go, where they want to get to, it excited me.
“I want to be successful, it’s clear this club wants to be successful, and everything we spoke about really was very similar. It was a really easy decision once I’d spoken to them.
“That’s the goal – for the club, for myself, is to get this club back to the Premier League, of course. I think there’s a lot of work to be done throughout the football club.
“The Premier League is where we want to get to, it’s an ambition of mine, one of the club’s, and we’re putting everything in place to make sure we do that in the near future.
“We’ll push for it (this season), of course. It’s a challenge, and something we’ll certainly push for. I’m committed, I’m ready to take this club forward, excited by this challenge…and looking forward to taking (it) on.”
Rooney's first game in charge of Birmingham will come against Middlesbrough after the international break.
