Wayne Rooney called the World Cup final half-time show "crap" live on BBC television, and it may be the best thing that ever happened to his broadcasting career. On Thursday night the former Manchester United and England captain was named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport Awards.
The half-time verdict
Rooney's review of the World Cup final half-time show was blunt. "I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap," he said, about a 27-minute, 22-second production that featured Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber. It caught fellow pundit Joe Hart by surprise, but viewers liked the plain speaking. So did the judges, who gave him the award at a ceremony in London attended by 650 people from the sports television industry. Gabby Logan was named sports presenter of the year, Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood won sports commentator of the year for Ski Sunday and the Winter Olympics, and Ultras took sports documentary of the year (series).
A bumpy start on Match of the Day
It has not always been smooth. His debut as a full-time pundit on Match of the Day in August 2025 divided opinion, and one fan wrote that doing something does not automatically make you good at explaining it. Guardian writer Paul MacInnes was kinder, calling him articulate and tactically insightful. Rooney admits it was harder than he expected. "I've always been my own biggest critic," he said. "And even now I need to improve, I need to be better. It's a lot of hard work." He asked for advice from television executives and from Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Hart and Micah Richards, and said he watches how the long-serving pundits do it.
Chemistry, rowing and a new look
Rooney spent his playing career learning from Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, and won the Champions League, the Europa League, five Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups. After a managerial spell with Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle he has found his voice on the other side of the camera. BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said he had improved "so much in a short time" and that the trio of Rooney, Hart and Richards would be seen together more in coming seasons.
Their chemistry showed during the tournament, especially after Rooney promised to row down the River Mersey if Norway beat Brazil. Norway won, so the three of them ended up rowing on the Hudson in New York instead. Rooney has also changed his appearance after committing to a healthier lifestyle built around padel and boxing training. His agent, Paul Stretford, said he was not surprised: "Wayne has continued to put his doubters in their place with his football intelligence and straightforward manner."
Context: Wayne Rooney named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport Awards (London, Thursday 5 November 2026). Former clubs as a manager: Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle. Full-time Match of the Day debut: August 2025.
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