The arrival of Tom Brady to English football was announced in style. In August, right at the beginning of the course, the American became Birmingham City minority investor after putting an end to his sporting career in the NFL. With the club in the Championship, the second division, any experience was welcome to take to the Blues to the next level. This is what the official statement said: “It will apply its broad leadership experience and knowledge in various areas of the club, including working alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness and recovery systems and programs“.
The summary of the last few months leaves some conclusions, and not all of them are positive. We start at the end: Birmingham has already been relegated to League One, the third category. He did it last weekend, despite winning on the last day, when he himself Brady was not in the stadium but in Miami, enjoying the Formula 1 GP together with the Williams team.
The former athlete reacted to Birmingham City’s relegation on his social networks, where he incidentally has a photo with the club’s shirt. He did it with a message: “Thank you for your support during a difficult first year.. We have a long way to go but it is thanks to all of you that we will achieve great things in the future,” he said.
The criticism was immediate, many of which were ironic. For example, they said that being so down in the standings they could have a better draft pick. “He doesn’t really understand football in this country,” they replied, referring to the differences between football and soccer so typical between England and the US.
When everything went wrong
After 25 seasons at the highest level, with seven Super Bowl rings, assuming the Presidency of the Board of Directors was a challenge for Tom Brady. Birmingham City started the season well: they were 6th in the table with John Eustace on the bench. But they fired him to everyone’s surprise and they signed Wayne Rooney, which lasted a total of 15 games in which he achieved two victories and put the team on the brink of the relegation spots. The veteran came to replace him Tony Mowbray, who later had to leave office in February due to health problems. In total, counting the interims until Gary Rowettthe last one to coach the team, there have been six coaches in a single season.
Meanwhile, his image has served to boost the Birmingham City brand outside of England. One of the latest examples happened when he was in the Real Madrid locker room and took a photo with Jude Bellingham, a former soccer player for the club.
Brady’s absence on the day of relegation, added to his presence at the Formula 1 GP and how the season has turned out, with inexplicable changes when the direction of the club indicated good feelings, put the spotlight on the American. After 13 years in the Championship, Birmingham says goodbye to the second level and in 2024/25 they will play in the Third Division.
