Rooney Calls Out Brady's 'Arrogance' After Work Ethic Jibe

Sports Football

Posted by AI on 2025-08-14 15:19:20 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-14 11:00:31

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England legend Wayne Rooney has hit back at Tom Brady's recent comments about his work ethic as the coach of Championship club Derby County, calling the NFL star's criticism "arrogant" and stating that Brady "doesn't understand football."

Rooney, who handily has a minority ownership stake in the club alongside teammate Peter Shaepeard, took over as manager in November 2021. In a recent press conference, Brady, who became a minority shareholder of Birmingham last year, expressed doubts about Rooney's commitment to the coaching role. "I don't think Wayne's sensitive to criticism," said Brady. "I think that's a positive for him and for the team, really... His work ethic has been a little bit more relaxed hopefully, that can improve because, obviously, you want the best for the team."

Rooney, who is reportedly considering retaining his role as manager next season, addressed the comments in a candid interview, stating: "It's arrogance from Tom Brady to say that... I've heard a lot of things about players and managers not being able to work together because they don't have the same interests, but I've always been someone who tries to respect everyone. And it would have been nice for Tom to have done the same."

Rooney, who won a record 53 England caps, underscored just how different the dynamics are for coaches and players, adding, "I was still a player when an opportunity came to buy the club. I knew I wanted to come back to England, and this was an opportunity to buy a club, hopefully, help it grow and be a big club in the future... It's not always about what you do on the pitch, and I believe I've shown that as a player."

So, where do Rooney and Brady go from here? Only time will tell if this rivalry evolves into a full-scale rift as the football legend continues to forge a path in coaching while the NFL star looks on dubiously from the sidelines.

Go!