Manchester United and England soccer legend Wayne Rooney is constructing a profitable profession in punditry – however that is not all he is received his eye on
Wayne Rooney will probably be on punditry obligation for Wrexham’s conflict with Chelsea on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney is doubtless one of the vital iconic figures in English soccer historical past. As Manchester United’s all-time report goalscorer and a former England captain, his legacy is firmly secured.
Since hanging up his boots, nevertheless, life has been considerably turbulent for the person often known as ‘Wazza.’ A tough begin to his managerial profession – together with disappointing spells at Plymouth Argyle and at Birmingham City – has left his prospects within the dugout unsure, prompting Rooney to pivot towards a rising profession in punditry.
After joining the BBC in 2025, he has rapidly settled into life within the studio. Now a daily face on Match of the Day, the 40-year-old seems to have discovered renewed goal in entrance of the cameras and is aiming – as he did throughout his participant profession – to ascertain himself among the many nation’s highest.
This Saturday, he’ll be on the Racecourse Ground to cowl Wrexham’s FA Cup conflict with Chelsea, arguably the decide of the fifth spherical fixtures, demonstrating the excessive regard with which he is held on the Beeb.
But punditry is not the one focus of Rooney’s post-playing life. He’s additionally navigating a fragile household scenario involving his son Kai, whereas sustaining a long-term ambition of at some point returning to Old Trafford. Here, Mirror Football takes a better take a look at all of it.
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Rooney’s BBC wage
Since swapping the pressures of the touchline for the relative consolation of the TV studio, Rooney has gone from power to power. Unsurprisingly, that success has been rewarded with a profitable broadcasting deal.
Reports counsel the Liverpudlian signed a two-year contract on the BBC price round £800,000 – inserting him among the many company’s best-paid soccer pundits on roughly £400,000 per 12 months. That determine places him simply behind long-time Match of the Day mainstay Alan Shearer, the previous England nationwide soccer group and Premier League striker who reportedly earns about £450,000 yearly.
BBC bosses had been reportedly determined to land Rooney after his profitable stint throughout Euro 2024, the place his his candid and insightful evaluation gained over viewers. Of course, the previous United star was no stranger to sizeable pay packets lengthy earlier than getting into punditry.
At the height of his enjoying profession, Rooney reportedly earned greater than £300,000 per week. Combined with profitable endorsement offers with manufacturers akin to Nike, Coca-Cola and EA Sports, the Red Devils legend is believed to have constructed a personal fortune of around £170 million.
U-turn on ‘golden rule’ with Kai
For years, a ‘golden rule’ existed throughout the Rooney family concerning the footballing profession of his eldest son, Kai. The 16-year-old, who’s rapidly rising through the ranks of Manchester United’s academy, had beforehand requested his well-known father to avoid his matches to keep away from the inevitable media circus and “swarms” of followers.
This ‘ban’ was designed to let Kai develop his personal id on the pitch with out the shadow of his legendary dad looming over the touchline. However, that strict rule has lately been relaxed as {the teenager} begins to make severe waves at his father’s former membership.
Wayne was lately spotted in the stands at Old Trafford, watching with satisfaction as Kai turned out for the Under-18s in a high-profile tie. It was a major U-turn, signalling that the teenager is now able to deal with the distinctive strain that comes with the Rooney title.
Kai is already displaying glimpses of his father’s expertise, although he has lately transitioned from a central striker to a harmful right-winger. With Wayne now again within the crowd, the subsequent era of the Rooney dynasty is formally taking centre stage.
Man Utd job ambitions
Despite his profitable new profession in punditry, Wayne’s final aim stays a return to the dugout on the highest stage. He has made no secret of his desire to at some point handle Manchester United, the membership the place he spent 13 trophy-laden years.
Rooney has described returning to his former membership as a “no-brainer” and has even expressed a willingness to take a step again to maneuver ahead. He lately admitted he would “100 per cent” settle for a job as an assistant supervisor if it meant serving to the membership he loves.
“Of course I would [take a job on interim manager Michael Carrick’s coaching staff]. It’s a no-brainer,” he mentioned 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.”
While some critics doubt his teaching credentials after a number of powerful spells as supervisor, Rooney’s dedication stays unshaken. The hearth clearly nonetheless burns for the United job and it seems to be as if he is keen to attend for the correct second to make his dream a actuality.
Rooney was requested once more lately on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast if he would get again into administration, to which he mentioned: “I would go back if the right opportunity came up. I’m not in a rush.”
He additionally opened the door for a return to boyhood membership Everton. “Probably the one two golf equipment I’d return to [not as a manager] are Everton and United as a result of they’re the 2 golf equipment that are near my coronary heart.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package deal
Sky has slashed the value of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle forward of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and providing greater than 1,400 stay matches throughout the Premier League, EFL and extra.
Sky will present at the very least 215 stay Premier League video games subsequent season, a rise of as much as 100 extra.
