For a man who has just been hired to deliver Birmingham City’s owners their ‘American dream’, Blues manager Tony Mowbray has made a truly inspiring start for his new employers.
In fact, he even had to cancel a New York holiday with his wife in the United States to take the job on.
Mowbray had only 35 days between his surprise sacking at Sunderland on 4 December and his unveiling back in the Midlands as successor to the sacked Wayne Rooney.
Time enough to enjoy a rare Christmas at home and make a few family plans. But, when the transatlantic phone call came from Blues co-owner Tom Wagner to take on his eighth job in management, even at 60, the popular man the football world knows simply as Mogga quickly felt the same strong overwhelming tug.
“I’m a football nut,” Mowbray told BBC Radio WM. “And I want to get this club moving back in the right direction.
“The owner called me from the States full of enthusiasm, full of passion, full of drive, talking about their plans, that it wasn’t just words, that it was going to happen.
“I’m at an age when still we want to be successful, get to the Premier League and then manage there again.
“I did have some other options and there were other clubs asking. But I know the Midlands,” said the former West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City boss. “And I felt this was an amazing opportunity.
“I bring knowledge. I bring experience. I’ve been managing 20 years now. And I’m not silly. If there’s a project that’s going to take 10 years, then I’m not going to be here at the end of that project.
| Hibernian | 24 May 2004 – 3 Oct 2006 | P108 W52 D16 L 40 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 18 Oct 2006 – 16 June 2009 | P140 W57 D32 L51 |
| Celtic | 16 June 2009 – 25 March 2010 | P45 W23 D9 L13 |
| Middlesbrough | 26 Oct 2010 – 21 Oct 2013 | P153 W61 D37 L55 |
| Coventry City | 2 March 2015 – 29 Sept 2016 | P76 W26 D24 L26 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 22 Feb 2017 – 11 May 2022 | P267 W108 D70 L89 |
| Sunderland | 30 Aug 2022 – 4 Dec 2023 | P65 W26 D18 L21 |
“But I’d be delighted to be part of the story. If I can fill it with good footballers, bring some stability, play with emotion and passion and get the fans wrapped up in the club and the team, then I will have played my part.
“Then hopefully the world’s next great coach will one day see a Birmingham City side winning the Champions League.”
Despite a run of just two wins in 15 games under Rooney, Mowbray even sees room for some short-term optimism going into his first game in charge, at home to Swansea on Saturday.
“There’s been a brilliant attitude from the players. I think we’re going to have a good time.
“It’s not a quick fix, I’ve not got a magic wand. But, if you’ve got a good attitude, you’ll get there in the end.”
‘The biggest debate was with my wife’
Tony Mowbray says the biggest wrench about taking the Blues job is having to go back to living out of a suitcase and being away from his wife and family.
“It’s great for me,” he said. “It’s what I do. But I’m not sure it’s such good timing for my family.
“The biggest debate was with my wife as to whether she was OK with it. We’ve recently had a burglary in our house.
“It’s difficult to come three hours away from home and live in a flat or an apartment, when she’s facing anxiety about that. But she knows it’s what I love.
“And I’ve enjoyed my time in the Midlands in the past, I like the people. And I’ve always liked the crowd at Birmingham.
“When the subs are coming on and they do their “‘Whoooo? Who are yer?’ That’s always made me chuckle.”
Now is the time for Mowbray to return the favour and start putting smiles back on Blues fans’ faces.
- Tony Mowbray was talking to BBC Radio WM sports editor Richard Wilford
