On September 6, Birmingham drew 2:2 at home with Wolves in the fifth round of the EFL Championship. After the match, in an interview with Sky Sports, Birmingham striker Jay Stansfield broke down in tears as he spoke about the health of the club's owner.

Three years ago, American businessman Tom Wagner and NFL legend Tom Brady took over the West Midlands club. However, in February this year, the 57-year-old Wagner suffered a sudden stroke and was hospitalized, causing deep concern throughout the club.

During his recovery, doctors advised him to avoid attending matches in person. On Sunday, he finally returned to the stadium to watch Birmingham's 2:2 draw against Wolves. The fans gave him a warm welcome, and this display of affection visibly moved the players on the pitch. When asked about the owner's return, Stansfield gave a touching response.

The tearful striker said after the match: "Yes, it means a lot. I've been in contact with him over the past few weeks, so it's special that he's here today."

After the team came from behind twice to secure a draw and a point, Stansfield was convinced that Wagner's presence at the match played a crucial role, adding: "He gave us a huge boost today."

Wagner accumulated considerable wealth as co-founder of investment firm Knighthead Capital Management.

In summer 2023, he officially acquired a stake in Birmingham, and the following month Brady joined as a minority shareholder. In their first season in charge, Birmingham unfortunately dropped to League One, but quickly returned to the Championship the following season.

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

Beyond the "Hollywood-like" attention, Birmingham's financial resources have also improved significantly. In 2024, the club signed Stansfield from Fulham for £15 million, breaking the League One transfer record.

In fact, all three record transfers in League One history were made by Birmingham in the 2024/25 transfer window: Kristoffer Klaesson and Willëm Willemsz each cost around £3.5 million.

It is no wonder that Wagner is so beloved at the club, despite the team's inconsistent start to the season, having drawn four of their first five matches.

There is further good news, as Wagner is actively pursuing plans to build a new 62,000-capacity stadium in Birmingham.

Übersetzt von KI.

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