Manchester United and England legend, Wayne Rooney, has reportedly signed an £800,000 deal to join the BBC's flagship show, Match of the Day. This comes after Gary Lineker's departure from hosting duties.
Gary Lineker had been at the helm of Match of the Day for 25 years before his exit at the end of last season. Despite plans to continue hosting FA Cup fixtures and next summer's World Cup, he left BBC following a controversy surrounding a social media post containing an alleged anti-Semitic trope.
Lineker has been replaced by Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates who will rotate as hosts for both Match of the Day and its Sunday counterpart - Match of The Day 2.
New role for Rooney
Rooney is set to join this trio as a pundit from next season. According to reports by The Sun, this move comes after his recent ventures into punditry on both BBC and Sky Sports since his dismissal as Plymouth manager on New Year’s Eve.
The deal includes an opportunity for a two-year extension. Fans can expect to see him feature as a pundit during World Cup coverage alongside notable figures such as Alan Shearer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Hart.
Look back at Rooney’s career
At 39 years old, Wayne Rooney holds impressive records in football history. He is Manchester United’s record goal scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances that contributed towards five Premier League titles and one Champions League victory.
Rooney began his career at Everton before moving onto Old Trafford where he made significant strides in his career. In 2017 he returned briefly to Everton before heading Stateside where he played for DC United. He transitioned into management when he became player-manager at Derby in 2020, marking the end of his playing career. After a brief stint in Washington managing DC United, he had unsuccessful spells at Birmingham and Plymouth.
This latest career move could signal an end to Rooney's managerial aspirations. However, it opens up a new chapter where he can share his wealth of experience and insights with sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike. His addition to the Match of the Day team is expected to bring fresh perspectives and engaging analysis for viewers.
