Legendary English footballer Wayne Rooney has lined up his next gig.
The former Manchester United star turned lackluster manager has recently taken a liking to broadcasting. And now, Rooney is set to become a key voice on England’s premier soccer show. According to a report in The Sun, Rooney has signed a deal with BBC’s flagship Premier League show Match of the Day. Rooney has recently featured on both BBC and Sky Sports contributing analysis to various competitions.
The news comes shortly after longtime Match of the Day host Gary Lineker left the show following an incident in which he posted an antisemetic trope on social media. In his place, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates will rotate hosting duties.
The Sun also reports that Rooney will serve as a panelist for BBC’s upcoming coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He’ll be expected to join Alan Shearer, former USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand, and Joe Hart on next summer’s coverage, according to the report.
Rooney’s deal with the BBC is said to be worth £800,000 and include a two-year extension opportunity should the arrangement go well for both sides.
There are few names as big as Rooney when it comes to soccer in the United Kingdom. His Match of the Day gig continues a trend of big name athletes taking on prominent media roles within their sport. Stateside, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, and Wayne Gretzky have all landed front-facing roles at networks covering their respective sports. Wayne Rooney is an equivalent hire for BBC.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.