BBC Sport is adding a new star name to its line-up ahead of the new season, with the launch of The Wayne Rooney Show – a twice-weekly football podcast fronted by the Manchester United and England legend.
The show, part of a wider revamp of the BBC’s football output, will see Rooney join forces with sports broadcaster Kelly Somers and comedian – and self-confessed football obsessive – Kae Kurd. Episodes will land every Monday and Friday, kicking off at 6am on Friday 15 August, and will mix big-match analysis, behind-the-scenes insight.
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With a playing career that saw him become Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, Rooney promises to bring “proper insider knowledge” to the podcast.
“I’m absolutely buzzing to kick off this podcast with BBC Sport,” he said. “Every week, we dive into the biggest football stories – no fluff, just proper insider knowledge from someone who’s lived it, breathed it, and knows what it takes to play at the highest level. Expect sharp opinions, honest chats, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments with myself, Kelly and Kae. We each bring something different to the table but collectively want to give the audience the kind of insight you only get from being in the thick of the game and football fandom.”
Special guests from the world of football will appear throughout the season to share their take on the week’s events.
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In the debut episode, Rooney responds to comments from former NFL star and Birmingham City minority owner Tom Brady, who had questioned his work ethic during his spell managing the Championship side.
“I think it was a very unfair comment,” Rooney said. “When I went into Birmingham, they were in a mess really. Hence the fact that, the players weren’t really the players who could take the club forward.
“We knew that and I think, Tom come in once which was the day before a game where the day is a little bit light anyway and I don’t think he really understood football that well at the time, maybe he does now…but what he does understand is, he’s a hard worker, we know that, so that’s why I’m really disappointed with the comment because football is not NFL – NFL works for 3 months a year, players do need rest as well, so I think he was very unfair the way he’s come out and portrayed that.
“Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively, he’s one of the greatest – if not the greatest athletes – of all time and Birmingham do look like they’re getting it right now, which is good. I think what they have done is got the players out they need to get out because when I was there, you had Tony Mowbray, Gary Rowett after me who also struggled as well… but yeah bit disappointed but nothing too serious so move on.”
The Wayne Rooney Show will be available on BBC Sounds, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and social media.