Rooney rejected Saudi offer before taking Birmingham job

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Wayne Rooney said he rejected an offer to manage in the Saudi Pro League before choosing to take charge of English second-tier side Birmingham City.

The former Manchester United and England striker, who previously coached DC United and Derby County, was appointed Birmingham manager on Wednesday with the club sixth in the Championship.

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Birmingham's chief executive Garry Cook said he had tried to bring Rooney to the desert kingdom in his previous role as CEO of the Saudi Pro League.

"We discussed Saudi Arabia. It wasn't going to happen," Cook said at a joint news conference with Rooney on Thursday.

A move to Saudi…