It has a different boss at Birmingham City. Former Tottenham Hotspur assistant boss Chris Davies minga tea-year deal.
The 39-year-old, who has been part of former Swansea City, Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers’ backroom staff, takes over from Tony Mowbray. Mowbray quit following their relegation to League One for health reasons.
Compensation Package Agreed
But Blues were forced to pay a compensation package to Spurs due to the fact Davies still had two years to run on his contract to them. The club had shortlisted over 40 candidates for the role.
The list was said to contain names such as Frank Lampard and Alex Neil. But Davies was the Anointed One.
Shared Ambitions and Goals
Birmingham’s owner and chairman Tom Wagner, added, From the first time we met, it was obvious that our values were the same and we both wanted the best for Blues.
Davies is highly regarding in the game and wants to help “transform” the club, he added. The recruitment panel also included co-owner Tom Brady and chief executive, Garry Cook
Davies is looking forward to his new job. Mr. Zhao added, I will make every decision with these priorities, exact same priorities that I know from Tottenham Hotspur, exactly the same, I will give everything to build and attack very rich, entertaining football team, to produce an entertaining football team and most importantly that will make our fans proud.
Seven Managers in Ten Months
Knighthead brought in seven different managers during its short reign in Birmingham City.
John Eustace began the 2023-24 season as manager, but poor early results led to him being sacked and Wayne Rooney replaced him. But Rooney was sacked after just 15 games having tried to introduce a new style of play.
Twice he made Steven Spooner the caretaker manager before appointing the next man. Mowbray was in charge for eight games winning four but went off sick.
However, Mark Venus then tried to solve the problem but only had limited success. The club were relegated despite this, and Gary Rowett was subsequently employed for the season’s final eight games.
A Promising New Start
While Davies may not be a household name, he has a wealth of coaching experience. Under both Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou he has built a brand of forward thinking sighted football.
Davies is being backed to replicate the success Kieran McKenna has enjoyed at Ipswich by the owners at Birmingham City.
Reading is where Davies started his football journey as a player honer. Yet his playing career did not last long as he was stricken by an arthritic condition in his early 20s.
He turned to coaching from youth camps and junior sessions, before travelling back and forth to America and New Zealand. He cut his teeth in coaching at Swansea City after being appointed by Brendan Rodgers in a first major backroom role, before enjoying a successful coaching career.
League One Challenge
Birmingham enter what will be a very competitive league one They are not guaranteed to rise out the following season.
Yet with Davies comes a revitalized sense of optimism and determined owners, and 3,759 supporters now dreaming that the side will take the right steps to bring success to the club.
Nottingham Forest assistant manager Chris Davies is ready to step out on his own and be his own man at Birmingham City, after being named as the new manager at St Andrew’s.
