On September 6, 2024 (CEST), in the fifth round of the EFL Championship, Birmingham drew 2-2 with Wolves at home. Following the match, in an interview with Sky Sports, Birmingham striker Jay Stansfield became emotional while discussing club owner Tom Wagner's health and return to the stadium.

Three years ago, American entrepreneur Tom Wagner, alongside NFL legend Tom Brady, led a consortium to acquire the West Midlands club. However, in February this year, 57-year-old Wagner suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, causing deep concern throughout the club.

During his recovery, doctors advised him against attending matches in person, but he eventually returned to the stadium for Birmingham's 2-2 draw against Wolves on Sunday. Fans welcomed him warmly, and this outpouring of affection clearly touched the players on the pitch — when asked about his owner's return, Stansfield gave an emotional response.

The tearful striker said after the match: "Yes, it means everything. I've been in communication with him over the last few weeks, so it was really special to have him here today."

After his team came from behind twice to earn a draw and claim one point, Stansfield believed Wagner's presence was crucial, adding: "He gave us a huge lift today."

Wagner accumulated significant wealth as one of the founders of investment firm Knighthead Capital Management.

In summer 2023, he officially acquired shares in Birmingham, and the following month Brady invested as a minority shareholder. In their first season in charge, Birmingham was unfortunately relegated to League One, but quickly bounced back to the Championship the following season.

Their journey leading the team back to the Championship was even documented by Amazon Prime in a documentary titled "Birmingham Made: Brady & the Blues."

Beyond bringing "Hollywood-level" attention, Birmingham's financial firepower has grown rapidly — in 2024, the club signed Stansfield from Fulham for £15 million, setting a historic League One transfer record.

In fact, three of the most expensive transfers in League One history were all completed by Birmingham in the 2024/25 transfer window: Krystian Bielik and Vilém Vachlepi transfers were both around £3.5 million.

It's easy to understand why Wagner is so beloved at the club. Despite a mixed start to the season, with the team drawing four of their first five matches, support for him remains strong.

Good news may still be on the horizon, as Wagner is actively pushing plans to build a new stadium with a capacity of 62,000 seats in Birmingham.

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