In October 2023, Birmingham City ranked sixth in the Championship. A 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion was enough to propel the team into the play-offs under John Eustace, and the atmosphere at St. Andrew’s appeared to be positive.

However, beneath the surface, there was rising unhappiness with the club’s head coach.

Tom Wagner and the Knighthead group were just a few months into their ownership of the West Midlands club, and they were eager to leave their mark on a team that had been locked in the Championship for more than 10 years.

Meanwhile, in League One, Derby County had a rough start to their season under Paul Warne, and while they would finally find stability and gain promotion back to the second tier, the current MK Dons manager would be fired only 16 months later.

Nonetheless, a moment that Wagner would later regret has now come to the Rams’ advantage, and they will be tremendously grateful to Birmingham for the decision made two and a half years ago.

Birmingham City committed a big error when they fired John Eustace in 2023.

Blues fired Eustace following their 3-1 victory over the Baggies in October 2023. The reason given for his departure was his failure to play ‘no fear’ football, and Wayne Rooney was brought in to lead the club in a significant shift in style.

Birmingham City Football Club has hired a new first-team manager who would establish a ‘no fear’ playing style for all teams (source: bcfc.com).It is critical that the board of directors and football administration fully understand the need of instilling a winning mentality and an ambitious culture throughout the football club.”

Rooney was relegated to League One with Derby in 2021/22, although his previous club was deducted 21 points that season and almost missed out on survival. However, he failed miserably at St. Andrews. In his 15 games in command, he only won twice and earned 10 points as Birmingham plummeted down the standings.

They were finally relegated to the third tier, with Tony Mowbray and Gary Rowett unable to prevent the inevitable, while Eustace joined Blackburn Rovers, where he kept the Lancashire club in the level on the final day of the season.

John Eustace and Derby County had the last laugh on Birmingham City.

After a challenging season in the Championship in 2024/25, the Rams made a move to bring their former midfielder back to the club as their new head coach in February 2025, poaching the 46-year-old from Blackburn. Eustace survived relegation with Derby, much like he did at Ewood Park, and has helped rebuild the team this season.

The East Midlands club is now battling for a Championship play-off spot, with a seven-point lead over Birmingham following their 1-0 victory against the Blues at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a day to forget for his previous club, and there is no doubt that Derby and Eustace have had the last laugh, 18 months after Wagner fired him.

Knighthead now faces a major dilemma regarding Chris Davies, and they may hunt for a new manager this summer, while their former head coach may be preparing a Premier League campaign.

John Eustace Derby County Championship stats (transfermarkt)*

Matches

53 Wins 23

Draws: 12; Losses: 18; Goals scored: 71.

Goals conceded.

Score: 62 points out of 81

*Statistics are correct as of March 23, 2026.

With Eustace at the helm, the Rams are creating something special, and he appears to be at ease under David Clowes, the owner he has trusted to return the team to the top flight after an 18-year absence.