BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) 鈥� With two sporting icons onboard, it’s no surprise Birmingham is aiming for the top.
Co-owned by NFL great Tom Brady and now , the team from English soccer’s second division has set its sight on the Premier League.
And Rooney, who was presented by the club on Thursday, is relishing working with Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have him at the football club. He鈥檚 very ambitious to move this club forward,鈥� Rooney said. “It鈥檚 clear, he鈥檚 fully involved in developing the club.鈥�
Brady became and also holds a position as advisory board chair.
The 37-year-old Rooney won five league titles and the Champions League with United as a player. As a coach, he has taken charge of second-division team Derby County and MLS side D.C. United.
Now at Birmingham, he believes he can achieve his ambition of managing in England’s top flight by leading the Midlands club back to the Premier League for the first time since 2011.
鈥淚 want to be successful, it鈥檚 clear this club wants to be successful, and everything we spoke about really was very similar,鈥� he said. “That鈥檚 the goal 鈥� for the club, for myself, is to get this club back to the Premier League, of course.
鈥淭he Premier League is where we want to get to. It鈥檚 an ambition of mine, one of the club鈥檚, and we鈥檙e putting everything in place to make sure we do that in the near future.”
Birmingham is currently sixth in the Championship.
Rooney, who left his position as after one season in charge, has named former Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole and former United player John O’Shea among his coaching staff.
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