New Birmingham boss Wayne Rooney says he felt his “pathway was a different way” after being approached about managing in Saudi Arabia.

Rooney was unveiled as Blues manager at a press conference at St Andrew’s on Thursday, where he sat alongside the club’s chief executive Garry Cook.

Cook assumed that role in July after Birmingham were taken over by US-based Shelby Companies Limited, having previously been working as executive president and chief executive of the Saudi Pro League.

Jordan Henderson and manager Steven Gerrard – two of Rooney’s former England team-mates – are among the high-profile names to have moved to the league in recent months.

When Rooney was asked if he had had an offer from Saudi Arabia, Cook said: “We discussed it, (but) it wasn’t going to happen.”

Rooney added: “That’s no disrespect to anyone who has gone out there – for me, I felt my development, my pathway was a different way.”

Jordan Henderson and manager Steven Gerrard – two of Rooney’s former England team-mates – are among the high-profile names to have moved to the league in recent months.

When Rooney was asked if he had had an offer from Saudi Arabia, Cook said: “We discussed it, (but) it wasn’t going to happen.”

Rooney added: “That’s no disrespect to anyone who has gone out there – for me, I felt my development, my pathway was a different way.”

The ex-Everton and Manchester United forward arrives at Birmingham after stepping down as DC United boss last weekend.

In August, Birmingham announced Tom Brady had became a minority owner at the Sky Bet Championship club, and on conversations with the former NFL star, Rooney said: “We spoke about the Super Bowl in February! It was great, I went to it.

“Speaking to Tom about the club and his role, how he is being really involved, his enthusiasm for it, (it) is refreshing. I think we’re both on the same page, when we say we’re excited for what this club can achieve in the future.

“He’s one of, if not the greatest athlete of all time. He will have a lot of advice he can give to me, but also one of the things I want to do when he’s over next is get him in front of the players, talking to them and sharing his story. I’m sure it would be really inspiring.”

Price: I learned so much from Lampard

Northern Ireland’s emerging talent Isaac Price has credited ex-Everton boss Frank Lampard with being a “massive” influence on his development and indicated the manager’s Goodison Park exit prompted his own summer move to Standard Liege.

Few Evertonians recall Lampard’s 12-month reign with great affection – they narrowly avoided relegation in May 2022 and then, amid protests against the board, failed to progress before he was sacked in January – but the 20-year-old Price believes he took big strides under the former England midfielder.

“(Lampard) was massive for me,” Price said. “I learnt so much while he was there. I had my debut… at Arsenal (in May 2022) and ever since then I felt like he really taught me a lot of stuff.

“He gave me my debut, he put a bit of trust in me. I was training with the (senior squad) regularly so I was learning a lot of things. Had it gone differently at Everton and he’d had the players he needed to get results maybe I’d still be there.”

Vilda appointed Morocco Women’s head coach

Women’s World Cup winner and former Spain coach Jorge Vilda was appointed as the new manager of the Morocco women’s team on Thursday, succeeding Frenchman Reynald Pedros.

Vilda, who won the Women’s World Cup with Spain in August, was sacked 10 days after FIFA suspended former Spanish FA (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales for giving a non-consensual kiss to striker Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony in Sydney.

The 42-year-old coach, who considered his dismissal “unfair”, was widely criticised for repeatedly applauding Rubiales during an emergency RFEF assembly in which the latter railed against “false feminism” and vowed not to resign.

Vilda is now also being investigated by Spain’s High Court in the alleged case of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales following the controversial kiss.

Originally, only Rubiales was under formal investigation, while other federation officials and players were called as witnesses.

Pedros joined Morocco in November 2020 and led the team to their first ever World Cup this year in Australia and New Zealand. They became the first Arab side to qualify for the last 16, but after two friendly losses against Zambia, Pedros was dismissed.

“The book closes and I am very disappointed not to continue my mission with the Moroccan national A team. But, so proud to have put this team on top of the world,” Pedros posted on social media platform X.

Gusto: I was warned Chelsea’s long-term project could take time to get going

Malo Gusto has revealed that Chelsea told him the club’s long-term project will take time to get going before he agreed to joining them last season.

The right-back departed his boyhood club Lyon in January but was loaned back to the French side for the remainder of the campaign.

It was a miserable year for both Chelsea and Gusto – who suffered a hamstring injury – as the Blues finished 12th in the Premier League.

“Before signing for a big club like Chelsea, you think and inform yourself of the situation,” Gusto told RMC Sport. “I wasn’t necessarily surprised, the management told me that it was a long-term project that could take time to get going.

“Little by little, with the team, we are trying to create a real group that will move forward together to put Chelsea back to where it should be and win everything.”