During his 15-month tenure at Sunderland’s Academy of Light, Tony Mowbray worked closely with assistant head coach Mike Dodds. Following his sacking by Sunderland, Mowbray took the reins at Birmingham City, where he later welcomed his former club to the Midlands for a Championship match. Birmingham triumphed 2-1, a result that led to Sunderland’s board dismissing Michael Beale, who had replaced Mowbray just months earlier.
However, just days after the game, Mowbray shocked fans by revealing he would be stepping down from his managerial role at Birmingham due to health issues, later disclosing that he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. In an emotional interview with the BBC, Mowbray explained that he is now recovering and recounted a deeply personal conversation with Dodds following the match at St. Andrews. Mowbray recalled, “I remember getting emotional telling Doddsy… I told him, ‘It’s not good, I’ve just been diagnosed with bowel cancer and I’m going to have to leave.’ He was also quite emotional.”
Mowbray spoke about the uncertainty he felt at the time, initially believing he could handle the illness without issue. But soon, the harsh realities of the disease set in. “I thought I could get through it, but there were days when I could hardly get off the floor… I was exhausted and physically drained,” he shared. He described the torment of his symptoms, including being frequently sick and unable to speak due to dehydration. Despite these challenges, Mowbray credited his family, particularly his wife, for their unwavering support, often driving him long distances to receive treatment.
The Birmingham City staff also provided significant support during this difficult period. Mowbray expressed gratitude towards the club’s owner, CEO Gary Cook, and sporting director Craig Gardner, all of whom he felt were instrumental in helping him during his recovery. He also reflected on Birmingham’s future plans, noting that while the club was aiming to make changes and invest, relegation had not been part of the plan. He expressed optimism for the club’s long-term prospects, with talks of moving to a new 60,000-seat stadium and potentially pushing for Premier League promotion in the coming years.
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