Hate to say it, but I told you so

Wayne Rooney struggled as manager of Birmingham FC. AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

Anyone who really knows me, will understand how humble I can be. How, when proven wrong, I’m the first to admit the error of my ways. And those people will also understand I’m hardly the type of person who will ever gloat: “I told you so!” when something I predict comes true.

OK, I’ll take my tongue out of my cheek now and shout from the roof tops: “I TOLD YOU SO!”

Back in October in the pages of this newspaper, I wrote about Wayne Rooney, and my surprise after his appointment as manager of Birmingham FC.

I questioned the decision mainly due to the fact that his previous managerial record wasn’t really that good. I predicted he would struggle, and low and behold, this week Wayne was shown the door after just 15 games in charge.

Birmingham were fifth in the Championship when he arrived and sit 20th now. Rooney’s team won just two games with him in charge.

I don’t need to remind football fans just how good a player he was, that’s not in question, but as a manager, its clear things have not worked out for him.

And he’s not alone.

Take the England team that played in the Euros in 2004. That side was labelled the Golden Generation.

A star-studded line-up of immense talent with players all considered in the prime of their careers.

Sadly for England fans, that team faltered, but what is interesting is nine of what would be fair to say was the best 11, have since gone into management or very senior coaching roles. And it’s not worked out that well.

David James managed a team in the Indian super league and left after an 11-game winless run. Gary Nevillie won only three of his 16 league games in charge of Valencia, which included a 7-0 thrashing by Barcelona.

Steven Gerrard did win the Scottish Premier League with Rangers, but suffered a torrid time at Aston Villa and is now two months without a win in Saudi.

Sol Campbell didn’t exactly set the world alight during his time managing Macclesfield Town and Southend, and Paul Scholes as caretaker manager of Oldham won just once in seven games.

Frank Lampard, to be fair, did impress leading Derby to play-off final and at Chelsea under a transfer embargo, but won just 13 of 55 games after that with Everton and Chelsea again.

Ashley Cole worked as a coach under former team-mates Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney but is now on the hunt for another job.

And after two assistant roles at Aston Villa and Leicester, John Terry is now coaching the kids at Chelsea’s academy.

All of the above mentioned were amazing players. Some of the best there have ever been. But managing a team, well that’s a whole different ball game.