ROAD TO WRACK & ROON

History repeats itself as latest big-name boss exits St Andrew's

WAYNE ROONEY might not have understood the importance of history in learning lessons. Which is a shame.

Had had studied the recent past at Birmingham, he might have lasted longer than 83 days in office.

It was eight years ago that a pragmatic young boss named Gary Rowett was kicked out of St Andrew's in favour of a stellar name, charged with playing 'progressive' football with a group of players incapable of delivering it.

Gianfranco Zola took Brum to the brink of League One before Harry Redknapp's last cameo in management saved the club from falling into football's third tier.

Fast forward to the present day and only the names had changed.

The manager Rooney replaced - John Eustace - is cut from the same cloth as Rowett. The 38-year-old, like Zola, is part of football's royalty.

It was a tough brief for the former Manchester United and England striker, coming as it did just days after he left DC United in the US.

He was asked to implement 'no fear' football by the club's new American owners, who were so determined to jazz up life at St Andrew's they persuaded NFL legend Tom Brady to be a part of it.