Wayne Rooney has been named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport Awards, presented to him in front of 650 people from the sports television industry at a ceremony in London. The 41-year-old, a former Manchester United and England captain, was recognised for his plain-speaking style and sense of humour throughout the tournament.
Rooney's move into broadcasting after a stellar playing career, followed by a testing stint as a manager, has not always been smooth. His debut as a full-time pundit on Match of the Day in August 2025 divided opinion, though Guardian journalist Paul Mac Innes praised him as articulate and tactically insightful. Rooney's own view is that he has always been his own biggest critic. "I didn't realise how tough it was going to be when I first started doing it," he said. "It's a lot of hard work."
To improve, Rooney has sought feedback from experienced television executives and fellow pundits including Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Joe Hart and Micah Richards. "I see how they do it. I enjoy it, it keeps me involved in football," he said. Asked about criticism from viewers, he added: "It drives me to be better."
His agent, Paul Stretford, said Rooney had continued to put his doubters in their place with his football intelligence and straightforward manner. BBC Sport events head Philip Bernie praised his "great willingness to learn and determination to improve," while BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said he had improved "so much in a short time."
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing