Wayne Rooney’s first Birmingham City training revealed some indications of his new striking technique

Following his appointment as Birmingham City manager last week, Wayne Rooney is getting ready to manage his first game.

The former England captain was officially named the team’s new manager, succeeding John Eustace, who departed the organization at the beginning of the week. The new coach has vowed to instill “no fear” in his team while they play.

After his appointment, all eyes will be on the club’s match against in-form Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium (3 p.m. kickoff), which will mark Rooney’s first game in command. In the other team’s dugout, he will face Michael Carrick, an old teammate from Manchester United and England.

The ‘Boro have now won their last four games after a shaky start to the season. Blues, who have won five of their first 11 games this season, will aim to maintain their successful start. In their most recent game, they defeated local rivals West Brom 3-1, placing them sixth in the Championship standings.

Rooney and his coaching staff have participated in their first practice with the team as preparations for the match against Middlesbrough get underway. Here are just a few things we noticed in the club’s video releases.

Hands-on approach

When it comes to training sessions, different managers have varying techniques. While some prefer to stand back and watch their coaching staff conduct the drills, others would rather conduct the sessions themselves. From the video footage posted by Blues, it appears that Rooney combines the two.

While the training was being conducted, the manager watched from the sidelines but nevertheless participated. He was shouting instructions and encouragement as he played the ball back in for the rondo-style drill.

Another aspect of his coaching approach that stood out was the way he would pull players away for one-on-one discussions to deliver instructions throughout the practice. A number of times during the clip, the manager is seen with specific players, giving them instructions based on what he has seen on the training pitch.

Goalkeepers involved

Goalkeepers are frequently utilized as outfield players in modern football, and it appears that Rooney will follow suit. Instead of training alone from the outfield players, the goalkeepers participated in a single passing drill.

Before the workout, Rooney can be heard giving directions while saying, “I want the goalkeepers to play the ball, I want defenders to play the ball.” The new manager’s playing style appears to be based on the idea of playing out from the back.

Finishing observations

A finishing drill was used to wrap up the practice, and midfielders were invited to participate as well. Rooney appeared to take a step back during this portion of the practice, which may have surprised him given his record of scoring in the top division, but he continued to watch with curiosity.

One of the greatest strikers in Premier League history is the ideal person to watch, so who else? The manager gave a few encouraging remarks, but mostly maintained his distance throughout the workout, which featured several impressive finishes. Rooney closes his speech with a simple “Well done, lads” after the final shot.

Two days off

Before the final drills, Rooney gathers the team for a meeting. During the debrief, he is overheard telling the team that the following two days are off. The players enjoyed a rare weekend off due to the international break.

Enjoy your two days off, he tells her. Enjoy your time with your family, whatever you choose to spend it, and be prepared to leave on Monday.