By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has been named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport Awards in London. The 41-year-old received the prize in front of 650 industry professionals on Thursday, marking a successful transition from a managerial career that included spells at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.
Blunt World Cup assessment wins viewers
Rooney's plain-speaking style connected with audiences during the 2026 World Cup. His live on-air dismissal of the tournament's half-time show — featuring Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber — as "crap" caught fellow pundit Joe Hart by surprise. The 27-minute-22-second performance drew Rooney's blunt verdict: "I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap."
Early criticism gives way to praise
Rooney's debut as a full-time pundit on Match of the Day in August 2025 divided opinion, with some viewers questioning whether playing experience automatically translates to broadcasting skill. Guardian journalist Paul MacInnes countered that Rooney was "articulate" and "tactically insightful," drawing on a playing career that yielded a Champions League, Europa League, five Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups under managers including Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
Commitment to improvement
Rooney actively sought feedback from experienced broadcasters and fellow former players Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Hart and Micah Richards. "I do look at the other pundits who have been there a long time. I see how they do it. I enjoy it, it keeps me involved in football," he said. His agent Paul Stretford noted Rooney's history of silencing doubters through "football intelligence and straightforward manner."
Physical transformation and on-screen chemistry
Rooney has adopted a healthier lifestyle incorporating padel and boxing training. BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski praised his "great willingness to learn" and described him as "a great mix of incredibly clever, funny in a self-deprecating manner and likeable." Chemistry with Hart and Richards was evident when the trio rowed on the Hudson River in New York after Rooney lost a bet that Norway would not beat Brazil.
