Wayne Rooney named pundit of the year after World Cup broadcasting debut

Wayne Rooney has been named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport Awards, recognising his move into broadcasting after a managerial career that included spells at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.

The former Manchester United and England captain received the award at a London ceremony on Thursday, attended by 650 people from the sports television industry. His BBC work during the 2026 World Cup helped win over viewers with blunt opinions and a self-deprecating sense of humour.

Rooney drew attention during the tournament when he criticised the World Cup final’s half-time show, saying: “I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap.” The 27-minute performance featured Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber, and fellow pundit Joe Hart was among those surprised by Rooney’s verdict.

The award marks a change in fortunes since Rooney’s full-time Match of the Day debut in August 2025, which divided viewers. Rooney said he had not realised how difficult broadcasting would be when he began, adding that he still needed to improve and that the work involved “a lot of hard work”.

He said he sought advice from television executives and experienced former players, including Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Hart and Micah Richards. “I see how they do it. I enjoy it, it keeps me involved in football,” he said.

Rooney also said criticism from viewers drove him to improve. BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski praised his progress, saying he had worked to develop his analytical and presentation skills. He added that Rooney, Hart and Richards would be seen together more on the BBC in coming seasons.