Football icon Wayne Rooney has reportedly secured a lucrative £800,000 contract to become a regular pundit on BBC’s flagship football show Match of the Day, stepping into a key role following Gary Lineker’s departure.
Rooney, 39, the all-time top scorer for Manchester United and former England captain, is set to appear on the show from the start of the upcoming Premier League season. His move to the studio comes after a brief and difficult managerial stint at Plymouth Argyle, which ended in December 2024.
Gary Lineker, who fronted Match of the Day for 25 years, left the programme in May amid controversy over a social media post. He had initially been expected to continue with other BBC football coverage, including the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup, but later severed ties with the broadcaster altogether.
Rooney will join a refreshed punditry team including Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand, Jurgen Klinsmann, Joe Hart, and others. Presenting duties will rotate among Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates.
The BBC role marks a shift in Rooney’s post-playing career, as he increasingly appears across both BBC and Sky Sports platforms as a football analyst. Sources suggest his new contract may extend beyond one year, with options to appear during major international tournaments such as the World Cup.
Rooney’s football journey saw him rise through the ranks at Everton before a stellar career at Manchester United, where he scored 253 goals in 559 appearances and won five Premier League titles, a Champions League, and numerous domestic honours. After brief spells at DC United and Derby County (as player-manager), Rooney transitioned into full-time management and now, television punditry.
Lineker’s final appearance was an emotional farewell, during which he thanked colleagues and viewers for a “wonderful journey” over two and a half decades.
