GOAL's WSL Team of the 2023-24 Season

Garnacho - not Bruno or Mainoo - should be Man Utd's POTY

21 most disappointing signings of the EPL season - ranked

Klopp's greatest wins as Liverpool manager - ranked

Ramos, Reus and the stars that could join Messi in MLS

Ronaldo misses costly as Al-Hilal hit back to deny Al-Nassr

Palmer wins Premier League Young Player of the Season Award

Xavi to be sacked by Barcelona despite recent contract U-turn

Madrid U-turn? Club consider changing Modric and Kroos plan

Transfers LIVE: Chelsea win race for £56m Messinho

Premier League top scorers 2023-24: Golden Boot race

Casemiro and Antony urged to leave Man Utd this summer

Bad news! Injury leaves future Real star Endrick on stretcher

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Birmingham lose to Norwich</li><li>Finished 22nd out of 24 teams</li><li>Relegated to League One</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Birmingham & Tom Brady suffer relegation nightmare! Wayne Rooney decision backfires horribly as Blues drop from Championship into League One

The American dream of a Premier League return became a relegation nightmare on Saturday despite the Blues beating Norwich City in their final game at St Andrew's. They desperately needed a victory and a few favourable results from fellow relegation fighters to stay up. Although they did their part, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers all emerged triumphant in their respective fixtures to ensure survival.

WHAT HAPPENED?

However, few would have imagined that they would be<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/tom-brady-birmingham-wayne-rooney-burning-premier-league-promotion-hopes-avoid-relegation/blt0608162ecb69d573" target="_blank"> going down to the English third tier</a> when Rooney was handed over charge in October after a shock decision to sack John Eustace. They were sixth in the league when the former Manchester United striker took over, but found themselves languishing in the 20th spot after managing <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/cheek-complain-wayne-rooney-15-game-reign-manager-nfl-legend-tom-brady-boardroom-assessed-man-utd-birmingham-dwight-yorke/blt9145fa701a7534da" target="_blank">to win just twice in 15 matches</a> before he was finally relieved of his duties following a 3-0 defeat to Leeds in February.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Gary Rowett happens to be the sixth manager to take charge of Birmingham in what has been a tumultuous season for the Blues. Eustace started the season in the dugout, who Rooney replaced. After 83 days, the ex-striker was gone and Tony Mowbray was brought in at the helm. In between, Steve Spooner was in charge of a single match in an interim capacity. However, Mowbray had to leave due to a medical emergency and Mark Venus was calling the shots for six games. On March 19, Rowett was called upon to lead the team until the end of the campaign, but had little luck in scripting a turnaround.

DID YOU KNOW?

Brady has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/troy-deeney-tom-brady-birmingham-board-st-andrews/blt8b1e2d64c3628b1d" target="_blank">massive plans for a makeover with £2 billion ($2.5m)</a> reportedly to be pumped into the project. However, those efforts must start from the third tier after a disappointing season which saw Birmingham go down to League One for the first time since the 1991-92 season.

WHAT NEXT?

Birmingham & Tom Brady suffer relegation nightmare! Wayne Rooney decision backfires horribly as Blues drop from Championship into League One | Goal.com English Qatar

Birmingham and Tom Brady have suffered relegation to League One as the decision to hire Wayne Rooney has magnificently backfired.

Editors' Picks