Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney wanted major career switch before Birmingham City appointment

Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney nearly made a dramatic career switch before being tempted back into a Championship hot seat by the high-flying Blues.

The Manchester United legend has taken on a sixth-placed Birmingham City side from John Eustace as club owners look to introduce a new style of football in the Midlands. Rooney has been tasked with that job but just months ago got so embroiled in the Wagatha Christie trial that he was cultivating ambitions to become a lawyer.

The trial involved the former striker's wife Coleen and Rebekah Vardy, wife of Leicester City talisman Jamie, after the latter accused Ms Rooney of libel after an Instagram spat over leaked stories. The trial is explored in a new Disney+ documentary titled Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story and in the series the new Birmingham City boss' ambitions are unveiled.

During one episode, Rooney admits he became fascinated by proceedings at the High Court. He said: “Yeah, it was interesting because I do like crime documentaries and in particular the different techniques the two barristers used."

The Premier League hero would often attend daily legal briefings with Coleen and her lawyers, Paul Lunt and David Sherborne, where he would contribute with legal arguments for the case. After one of these brainwaves, Coleen snapped: "Wayne shut up and let David or Paul speak."

She went on and explained: "He was then going to apply for law school and he had all these plans,' before adding that the 'little moments' carried them through."

Coleen's lawyer Jamie Hurworth said: "Once the day was finished we would have a little debrief with Wayne and Coleen. I had not dealt with Wayne that much before the trial. But he was just fascinated by the whole thing. Wayne started suggesting, like, legal argument that we should start running."

The Rooney groups' lead lawyer Paul Lunt added that the former footballer wasn't "a modern day Columbo but certainly had we have given him a gown and a wig he was bang up for asking a few questions".

Instead of pursuing his legal badges, Rooney stuck to the sport he knows best, although struggled to make a real impact at DC United in the MLS. The Scouser agreed to mutually terminate his contract at the club earlier this month, just days before he was announced as the new Birmingham City manager.