Former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has been named Pundit of the Year at the Broadcast Sport Awards. This award highlights his work as a football analyst on television.
Rooney, who is 41 years old, received the award at a ceremony in London on Thursday. About 650 people from the sports broadcasting industry were in attendance.
This recognition comes as Rooney's profile as a football pundit has grown. His straightforward analysis and funny comments caught viewers' attention, especially during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
One of his most talked-about moments was when he criticized the half-time show of the tournament. The show featured Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. "I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap," Rooney said on live BBC Television, referring to the 27-minute performance.
His honest opinion surprised some viewers, including fellow pundit Joe Hart. Rooney's straightforward style and sense of humour have helped him make a mark on the broadcasting team.
After winning the award, Rooney shared that moving from professional football to television was harder than he thought. "I didn’t realise how tough it was going to be when I first started doing it," he said.
Despite this recognition, the former striker is determined to keep improving his broadcasting skills. "I’ve always been my own biggest critic. And even now I need to improve, I need to be better. It’s a lot of hard work," he stated.
Rooney’s shift to broadcasting came after a successful playing career and a tough time in football management. His full-time punditry debut on BBC’s Match of the Day in August 2025 received mixed reviews. Some viewers questioned his presentation skills on television.
However, Paul MacInnes from the Guardian praised Rooney, calling him articulate and tactically insightful. MacInnes noted that Rooney has a lot of experience to draw from.
During his playing days, Rooney was under top managers like Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes. He won the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and three League Cups.
Rooney mentioned that he has sought advice from experienced television executives and former players who are now pundits. This includes Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Joe Hart, and Micah Richards to improve his analysis and presentation.
"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.
On the criticisms he faces from viewers, Rooney said he sometimes sees negative comments. But he believes these comments motivate him to do better. "It drives me to be better. I always feel when I do something I want to do better and be the best I can," he added.
Rooney’s long-time agent, Paul Stretford, said his achievement is not surprising. Stretford attributed it to Rooney’s football intelligence, ambition, and straightforward nature. "It is no surprise to me that Wayne has continued to put his doubters in their place with his football intelligence and straightforward manner," Stretford said.
Philip Bernie, head of BBC Sport Events, praised Rooney’s commitment to improving as a broadcaster. "Wayne is also a very likeable guy, a proper team player, with no ego on display," Bernie said.
BBC Sport Director Alex Kay-Jelski described Rooney as intelligent, funny, and approachable. He noted that Rooney has made great progress in a short time. "Like anyone who cares about their job, Wayne had to work hard, to learn skills around analysis and delivery, and he’s improved so much in a short time," Kay-Jelski said.
He also highlighted the good chemistry between Rooney, Hart, and Richards during their World Cup coverage. The trio worked well together as equals.
Their on-screen connection gained more attention when Rooney promised to take on a rowing challenge after making a wrong prediction about a match between Norway and Brazil. After Norway defeated Brazil, Rooney agreed to change his challenge to the United States. He eventually went to the Hudson River in New York with Hart and Richards.
Rooney’s award at the Broadcast Sport Awards marks another step in his shift from professional football to television broadcasting.
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