Wayne Rooney is eyeing his first experience of managing in the Premier League as he targets promotion with Birmingham City.
Only a few days after leaving DC United, Rooney was confirmed as Birmingham’s new boss on Wednesday, signing a three-and-a-half year deal with the Championship side.
His previous experiences of managing have come in the Championship and League One with Derby County before his move to the MLS, and Rooney is confident he can fulfill his own ambition by ending Birmingham’s 12-year wait for a top-flight return.
“The goal for the club and myself is to get this club back to the Premier League,” Rooney said.
“There is a lot of work to be done throughout the football club but the Premier League is where we want to get to.
“It’s an ambition of mine and it is an ambition of the club’s, and we are putting everything in place to make sure we do that in the near future.”
Rooney’s appointment came after Birmingham made the decision to sack John Eustace, who had led the club to back-to-back wins to leave them sixth in the Championship table.
The pressure is therefore on Rooney to ensure that good form is maintained, but the 37-year-old was quick to point out that high expectations were nothing new to him.
“It’s more pressure as well, which I love,” Rooney said.
“I love the fact we are in a good position. I love the challenge and I love the pressure of it, and that’s something I’ve dealt with since I was a young kid coming through at 16.
“It’s nothing new to me, but it might be new to some of the players. My job is to make sure I get them ready for that and really get them ready to go out and be successful.
