Manchester United and England football legend Wayne Rooney is carving out a successful career in punditry - but that's not all he's got his eye on
Wayne Rooney will be on punditry duty for Wrexham's clash with Chelsea on Saturday
Wayne Rooney will be on punditry duty for Wrexham's clash with Chelsea on Saturday(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
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Wayne Rooney is unquestionably one of the biggest icons in the history of English football.
As Manchester United's all-time leading scorer and a former captain of England, his place in the game's history is firmly established. Since retiring from playing, though, things have not always been smooth for the man widely known as 'Wazza.'
A challenging start to his managerial career - including poor spells with Plymouth Argyle and with Birmingham City - has cast doubt over his future on the touchline, leading Rooney to shift his focus toward an expanding role in television punditry.
Since joining the BBC in 2025, he has quickly adapted to life as a studio analyst. Now a regular presence on Match of the Day, the 40-year-old seems to have rediscovered a sense of direction in front of the cameras and is determined - just as he was during his playing days - to establish himself among the nation's top football voices.
This Saturday, he will be at the Racecourse Ground to analyse Wrexham's FA Cup meeting with Chelsea, widely viewed as the standout tie of the fifth-round fixtures, underlining the level of respect he commands at the Beeb.
Yet television work is not Rooney's only priority since retiring from football. He is also dealing with a sensitive family matter involving his son Kai, while still holding onto the long-term dream of eventually returning to Old Trafford. Here, Wales Online explores the situation in more detail.
Rooney's BBC salary
BBC Sport presenter Mark Chapman talks with pundits Wayne Rooney and Glenn Murray
Rooney is one of the BBC's highest-paid figures(Image: Getty Images)
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Since swapping the pressures of management for the relative comfort of the TV studio, Rooney has gone from strength to strength. Unsurprisingly, those achievements have come with a highly rewarding media contract.
Reports indicate the Liverpudlian agreed a two-year deal with the BBC valued at roughly £800,000 - placing him among the broadcaster's highest-paid football analysts at around £400,000 per year. That salary leaves him slightly behind long-standing Match of the Day regular Alan Shearer, the former England national football team and Premier League striker, who is believed to receive about £450,000 each year.
BBC executives were reportedly keen to secure Rooney after his impressive appearances during Euro 2024, where his honest and perceptive commentary proved popular with viewers. Naturally, the former United forward had already become accustomed to major paydays long before beginning his punditry career.
During the height of his playing years, Rooney was said to earn more than £300,000 each week. Alongside sponsorship agreements with major companies such as Nike, Coca-Cola and EA Sports, the Red Devils icon is thought to have accumulated personal wealth of around £170 million.
U-turn on 'golden rule' with Kai
Kai Rooney and Wayne Rooney during Nordoff Robbins' Legends of Football at JW Marriott Grosvenor House on October 07, 2024 in London, England.
Wayne Rooney's son Kai is looking to follow in his father's footsteps at Man Utd(Image: JMEnternational, Getty Images)
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For a long time, a 'golden rule' existed in the Rooney household regarding the football journey of his eldest son, Kai. The 16-year-old - currently progressing quickly through Manchester United's academy system - had previously requested that his famous father avoid attending his matches to prevent the inevitable media attention and "swarms" of supporters.
This 'ban' was intended to allow Kai the freedom to build his own reputation on the pitch without constantly being compared to his legendary father on the sidelines. Recently, however, that strict arrangement has eased as the teenager begins attracting serious attention at his dad's former club.
Wayne was recently seen in the stands at Old Trafford, proudly watching Kai represent the Under-18s in a high-profile fixture. The moment represented a notable U-turn, suggesting the youngster now feels prepared to cope with the extra scrutiny that comes with the Rooney surname.
Kai is already displaying flashes of the ability that made his father famous, although he has lately moved from playing as a central striker to operating as a dangerous right winger. With Wayne now returning to watch from the crowd, the next chapter of the Rooney football family is officially stepping into the spotlight.
Man Utd job ambitions
Wayne Rooney
Rooney says he still wants to become a successful manager(Image: Gareth Copley, Getty Images)
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Even with his successful new career in broadcasting, Wayne's long-term objective remains a return to management at the top level. He has openly spoken about his ambition to one day manage Manchester United, the club where he enjoyed 13 trophy-laden seasons.
Rooney has described the idea of going back to his former side as a "no-brainer" and has even suggested he would be prepared to take a step backward in order to move forward. He recently acknowledged he would "100 per cent" accept a position as assistant manager if it meant helping the club he loves.
"Of course I would [take a job on interim manager Michael Carrick's coaching staff]. It's a no-brainer," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show. "I'm not begging for a job here by the way. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing."
Rooney and Carrick celebrate after winning the FA Cup
Rooney says he'd love to work at Man Utd one day, and would jump at the chance of joining former team-mate Michael Carrick's coaching staff(Image: 2016 Manchester United FC)
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Although some critics question his coaching ability after several difficult managerial stints, Rooney's determination has not faded. The desire to one day manage United clearly remains strong and he appears ready to wait patiently for the right opportunity to turn that ambition into reality.
Rooney was asked again recently on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast if he would get back into management, to which he said: "I would go back if the right opportunity came up. I'm not in a rush."
He also left the possibility open of returning to his boyhood side Everton. "Probably the only two clubs I'd go back to [not as a manager] are Everton and United because they're the two clubs which are close to my heart."