Wayne Rooney is ready to turn into a daily pundit on Match of the Day.
The 39-year-old former footballer shall be formally unveiled later this month after impressing throughout visitor appearances on the BBC’s soccer protection.
Rooney’s two-year contract with the BBC will see him contribute to the company’s protection of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada and he’ll kind a part of a brand new period for the long-running programme with the presenting trio of Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan taking up from Gary Lineker – who bowed out after 26 years as host on the finish of final season.
A supply informed The Solar newspaper: “Wayne is a pure broadcaster; he’s heat, witty and and forensically knowledgable about all facets of the sport.
“He nonetheless has a deep love for soccer and likewise will get on effectively with everybody on either side of the digicam.
“He’s eminently likeable, and has impressed on his outings so far – viewers have additionally actually taken to him which has been clear from social media commentary.
“Wayne shall be a key a part of subsequent yr’s World Cup protection which is an enormous coup, and can present some much-needed experience on Match of the Day within the wake of Gary’s departure.
“Everybody, together with Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, is extremely excited to get him on board. It is an ideal signing.”
Rooney has been working as a TV pundit since being sacked as supervisor of Plymouth Argyle final December and recommended not too long ago that he was joyful being within the studio.
Talking to talkSPORT final month, the previous England captain mentioned: “Clearly simply doing a little TV work on the minute, in order that’s what I’m doing.
“I’m having fun with it. So, that’s the place I’ll be.”
Rooney revealed in January that he was not in a “large rush” to return to administration after being dismissed by Plymouth with the workforce on the backside of the Championship.
The Manchester United nice mentioned: “I am not in an enormous rush to return in – there’s various things that I am taking a look at to try to get entangled with – except one thing was completely the fitting to do.
“Each membership I have been at, I’ve put myself in a extremely difficult state of affairs. Generally you’ve got totally different concepts which you are making an attempt to place throughout to the gamers, and possibly there is a little bit of vanity the place you are considering, ‘That is the fitting method.’ Having higher gamers helps.”