Birmingham City, a soccer team owned in part by NFL legend Tom Brady, was relegated to England’s third tier on Saturday. The team had not competed in this division since 1995 and joins Rotherham and Huddersfield Town in League One next season.
This marked the end of a tumultuous season for Birmingham’s American ownership, which saw them go through three head coaches, including Wayne Rooney, a Manchester United and England legend. Despite winning their match against Norwich with a score of 1-0, Birmingham City needed help from other matches to avoid relegation. Unfortunately, with Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday, and Blackburn winning their respective games, Birmingham City was unable to escape relegation.
Brady became part of Birmingham City’s ownership group last August, partnering with the club’s holding company, Knighthead Capital Management. Club chairman Tom Wagner was excited to bring Brady’s winning mentality to the team and emphasized that Brady’s involvement signaled a commitment to excellence. Although Brady was not present at St. Andrew’s on Saturday due to prior commitments in Miami and Los Angeles, his ownership of Birmingham City remains a significant move towards elevating the club’s stature.