New Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to manage in the Saudi Pro League in favour of returning to England.
Manchester United's all-time record scorer has spent the last 15 months in charge of Major League Soccer's DC United but left the club last week after failing to make the end of season play-offs.
He was appointed manager at the English second-tier club following the surprise sacking of John Eustace who left despite the team sitting a respectable sixth in the Championship table.
Birmingham's chief executive Garry Cook said he had tried to bring Rooney to the kingdom in his previous role as CEO of the Saudi Pro League.
“We discussed Saudi Arabia. It wasn't going to happen,” said Cook at a joint press conference with Rooney on Thursday.
Rooney's former England teammate Steven Gerrard is currently coaching in Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq – with former Liverpool midfielders Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum part of his playing squad – despite initially turning down the job offer.
But 37-year-old Rooney, who previously managed in the Championship with Derby County, where he almost saved the club from relegation despite a 21-point deduction and transfer embargo, did not feel the move was right for him.
“I felt for my development that my pathway was a different way,” Rooney said of Saudi interest. “That is no disrespect to any manager that has gone out there, by the way.
“I think for myself, firstly to get back into English football is great. It's what I've wanted to do.
“I've had opportunities over the last four to six weeks at other clubs as well, but since speaking to Birmingham, it was a really easy decision.
“I want to be successful, it's clear this club wants to be successful, and everything we spoke about was very similar.”
In August, Birmingham announced that former NFL star Tom Brady had became a minority owner at the club with the seven-time Super Bowl champion partnering up with the club’s holding company, US-based Knighthead Capital Management.
“Speaking to Tom about the club and his role, how he is being really involved, his enthusiasm for it, it is refreshing,” said Rooney. “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.”
The immediate target for Rooney is to steer Birmingham back to the top-flight for the first time since 2011.
His first game sees Birmingham take on Middlesbrough, who are managed by his old Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick, and Rooney insists he is looking forward to beginning the challenge of trying to win promotion to the Premier League.
“I love it,” he said. “I've dealt with a lot of pressure throughout my whole career, since I was 16.
“You're in the game to develop yourself and your team, and not be afraid to takes risks and make mistakes – you learn from the mistakes you make, that's how you improve.
“I've no problem with the pressure and I have to make sure the players are ready for that. We have expectations and targets to hit.
“Winning is always the key but the plan is getting back playing at the top level.
“That's the target for us and I'm here to make that happen.”
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Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
