Ipswich Town: Tony Mowbray steps down as Birmingham City manager

The 60-year-old spent five years at Portman Road between 1995 and 2000, helping the Blues secure promotion to the Premier League in the play-off final at Wembley in the last game of his playing career. He also worked as a coach and caretaker manager before going on to work elsewhere.

Mowbray was controversially sacked by Sunderland back in December 2023, with the Black Cats sitting ninth in the Championship table. It didn't take him long to find a new job, joining up with Birmingham City around a month later.

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However, the club announced that the need for medical treatment had forced him to temporarily withdraw from his role, which was subsequently extended until the end of the season. Ex-Town defender Mark Venus and experienced boss Gary Rowett both tried to keep the team in the second tier, but they were ultimately relegated to League One on the final day of the season.

Mowbray has since confirmed that he'd rather focus on making a full recovery from focus and spend time with his family before jumping back into a managerial role.

In a statement, he said: “As people will be aware, I am currently undertaking a period of extended convalescence following significant and unexpected surgery earlier in the year which required that I take a period of medical absence.

“Throughout this period, I have watched every Birmingham City game along with every training session, whilst I have remained in positive and constructive dialogue with Tom Wagner, Garry Cook and Craig Gardner.

Mowbray was placed on medical leave after having surgery earlier this year (Image: Stephen Waller)

“Over the very recent days, it has become apparent to me that I will not be fully fit to resume my duties as Manager of Birmingham City in the timescale that would allow the Club to best prepare for the forthcoming season and therefore, I have regrettably decided to step away from my role at this time.

“Once I have fully recovered, it is important to me that I then spend some quality time with my wife and my boys before I fully commit to work.

“I am extremely grateful to Tom Wagner for the genuine warmth that he has shown towards me during what has been a challenging time, not only for me personally but also for the Club.  I firmly believe that under Tom’s stewardship coupled with the football expertise that Garry offers, Birmingham City have a very bright future ahead.

“I would like to thank everybody associated with the Club who has supported me during these unprecedented times, and I would like to especially thank the Birmingham City supporters for your affection, your kindness, and your support in the relatively short period of time I have been with the Club. Whilst I step down as Manager of Birmingham City, I now become a Blues fan and I wish everybody at the Club nothing but absolute success in the future.

“Once I have fully recovered and have spent some quality time with my family, I intend to make a return to football management at the appropriate moment. I hope that the privacy of my family and I will be respected at this time. Thank you for your ongoing support, Tony.”