Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has reportedly agreed an eye-watering deal to become a pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day from the start of next season after Gary Lineker's departure
09:57, 07 Jul 2025
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Amazon Prime Video pundit Wayne Rooney during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park on April 15, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has landed a punditry contract with the BBC(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has reportedly signed an £800,000 contract to serve as a pundit on Match of the Day starting from the next season.
The Manchester United and England legend is set to join the BBC's flagship programme following Gary Lineker's exit as its presenter. Lineker had been at the helm of the show for 25 years before stepping down at the conclusion of the previous season.
The 64-year-old was slated to continue hosting FA Cup matches and the upcoming World Cup next summer, but he parted ways with the BBC entirely after a controversy over a social media post that allegedly contained an anti-Semitic trope.
He was replaced by Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, who will take turns presenting Match of the Day and its Sunday counterpart, Match of the Day 2.
According to The Sun, they will be joined by Rooney as a pundit. Since being dismissed as Plymouth manager on New Year's Eve, Rooney has been dabbling more in punditry on both the BBC and Sky Sports.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Birmingham City and Newcastle United at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park on February 08, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Gary Lineker left Match of the Day after 25 years as host(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
Article continues below
The agreement reportedly includes the option for a two-year extension, and it's anticipated that Rooney will feature as a pundit during the World Cup alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Hart.
At 39, Rooney holds the record for the most goals scored for Manchester United and held the same record for England at the time of his retirement, a feat since surpassed by Harry Kane.
He first made waves at his childhood club Everton before transferring to Old Trafford where he netted 253 goals in 559 appearances, clinching five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Rooney returned to Everton in 2017 before making the move across the Atlantic to join DC United. He later stepped up as player-manager at Derby in 2020 before hanging up his boots.
Gary Lineker holding back the tears on his final Match of the Day episode
Gary Lineker had to hold back the tears on his final Match of the Day episode(Image: BBC )
The former England striker then made his way back to Washington to take the reins at DC United, but subsequent stints at Birmingham and Plymouth were not successful. This fresh turn into punditry might well spell the end of Rooney's managerial aspirations.
After hosting his last Match of the Day in May, Lineker concluded with a poignant farewell. "Alan [Shearer] and Micah [Richards], I suspect our paths will cross again very shortly," he said.
"Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I've had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years, you've made my job so much easier.
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Article continues below
"Also, a huge thank you to those you don't see at home: the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort. From the editors, to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to the subs, thank you all, you're the very best.
"Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits. It's been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It's been utterly joyous. I'd like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly for when they sit in this chair - the programme is in the best of hands.
"And my final thank you goes to all of you. Thank you for watching. Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. It's been so special - and I'm sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye. Goodbye."