NFL icon Tom Brady has drawn sharp criticism from football fans after questioning Wayne Rooney’s work ethic in a recent documentary about Birmingham City.

The five-part docuseries, released on Friday, offered an inside look at the operations of the Championship club during a turbulent season that ended in relegation.

It features players, staff, and ownership figures — including Brady, who is a high-profile investor through Knighthead Capital.

A now-viral clip from the series shows Brady visiting Birmingham’s training ground during Rooney’s brief and unsuccessful tenure as head coach.

AmazonPrime

After attending a team meeting and observing a training session, Brady, while driving away with business partner Ben Rawitz, voices concern.

"I'm a little worried about our head coach's work ethic," Brady says in the car.

Rawitz replies: "Comes across as lackadaisical."

Rooney was dismissed in January 2024 after managing just 15 games, and only two wins, before the club’s eventual relegation from the Championship.

His sacking came just months after replacing John Eustace, who had Birmingham competing for a play-off spot at the time of his dismissal.

England lose tense India Test match as injured Chris Woakes heroically bats one-handed in dramatic finale

Brady’s remarks have been met with anger from fans, many of whom felt he showed a lack of respect for one of English football’s biggest names.

One fan posted on X: "To say that about the Tom Brady of English football is crazy."

Another added: "Zero class from Brady."

A third wrote: "It’s the Tom Brady show, shame he has no class and no idea of the game."

A fourth viewer didn’t hold back: "Slandering a legendary player on camera is as low as it gets.

Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal players 'turned down by Sydney Sweeney' after she split from fiance

GETTY |

Wayne Rooney was sacked by Birmingham in January 2024 after a dire run of form

"Rooney might not be a tactical genius, but for someone new to the sport to pass judgment like that? He should try managing the team himself."

Rooney, 39, began his managerial career while still playing for Derby County, stepping up to lead the team during a period of financial crisis.

Despite off-field turmoil, he earned praise for keeping the squad competitive under immense pressure.

After a short stint managing DC United in Major League Soccer, Rooney returned to England to take charge of Birmingham.

Last year, Rooney was appointed as Plymouth manager. However, he was axed on New Year's Eve with the Pilgrims struggling for form.

The documentary doesn’t shy away from Brady’s own role in the club’s poor decisions.

He admits replacing Eustace with Rooney was a major misstep.

"I had good advice, 'Don’t go in there and make sweeping changes. You guys have time,'" Brady says in the film.

"But we made sweeping changes that put us in decline. That was our doing."

Brady also didn’t hold back in his assessment of the squad’s mentality during a relegation season.

PA |

Wayne Rooney lost his job at Plymouth on New Year's Eve

"We were trying to make Birmingham a world-class team – but it’s been a s**t year," he said bluntly.

"They were lazy and entitled, which doesn’t give you much chance to succeed."

Birmingham are back in the Championship now after securing promotion from League One last term.

The Blues won 34 of their 46 league matches to go back up, accumulating 111 points in the process.