Wayne Rooney has reportedly signed a big-money deal to turn out to be an everyday pundit on Match of the Day.
The programme is about to bear a revamp after Gary Lineker departed the BBC’s flagship soccer present after greater than 25 years of sitting within the host’s chair.
Lineker’s presenting duties will now be shared between Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, who will rotate as hosts of Match of the Day and its Sunday counterpart, Match of the Day 2.
Becoming a member of them within the studio will probably be Rooney, who, in response to The Solar, has agreed to a blockbuster deal price a reported £800,000 per yr.
That determine makes him one of many BBC’s highest-paid pundits – greater than double the most-recent wage of Alan Shearer, who earned as much as £384,999 for his appearances in the course of the 2023/24 season. Shearer will stay a fixture on the present, alongside Chapman, Logan, Cates, and now Rooney.
Rooney isn’t any newcomer to punditry.
The previous England captain has made a number of visitor appearances for the BBC and Sky Sports activities lately, however has leaned additional into the function since his sacking as Plymouth Argyle supervisor on New Yr’s Eve.
Now, he’s making his greatest transfer but within the media world – one which may also see him be a part of the BBC’s group for the 2026 World Cup in North America, the place he’ll function alongside the likes of Shearer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Hart.
With Match of the Day scores anticipated to take a success following Lineker’s departure, the BBC will little question be hoping Rooney will be the headline act they should regular the ship.