Wayne Rooney cuts a tired figure as he heads home after viewers shared their verdict on his debut as a Match Of The Day regular

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On the weekend, he had his highly anticipated first appearance on Match Of The Day following news of a reported £800,000 contract.

After the BBC show, Wayne Rooney looked weary as he left, having made his debut on the long-running program late at night.

In a fresh makeover for their program, the revamped show welcomed the veteran English soccer player, aged 39 (who played for England and Manchester United), as the new Premier League season got underway this weekend, with him being the first guest on air.

As I saw Wayne stride casually out of the BBC studios on his way home, social media buzzed with fans’ reactions to his debut. Can’t get over it!

After Gary Lineker’s high-profile exit in May, Mark Chapman introduced the first revamped version of the highlights program, and he will now rotate hosting duties with Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan.

Rooney, following his signing of an impressive £800,000 contract with the BBC and appearing cheerful upon arrival at the studio, drew specific harsh comments.

The user stated that it might become a recurring issue throughout the season; he intends no personal disrespect, but featuring Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day seems to be an error.

As a diehard fan, I must confess my disappointment in the post-game analyses, finding myself yearning for the silent refuge of the mute button during Rooney’s punditry.

‘Great player, dreadful analysis.’

In a smooth move seen as an ideal choice to start the transition from Gary Lineker’s long-standing tenure, Chapman garnered widespread approval following his debut this season.

Posts included: ‘My goodness, what an upgrade in presenter;

‘Mark Chapman is the best in the business.’ 

However, not everyone was on board with the show sticking to its usual format.

Instead of the anticipated fresh #MOTD layout, even though I appreciate Mark Chapman, it seems more like a typical Sunday evening.

‘Not the same without Lineker;’

Chapman began the show with a cheeky joke at Rooney’s expense.

In the initial part, he subtly hinted at shifts within the panel, yet instead of discussing Lineker’s exit, he chose to highlight the arrival of Rooney.

Chapman stated: “Good evening! The Premier League is resurrected, and so is Match of the Day. This season, you might have noticed a significant shift in our program, as Wayne Rooney has officially become a frequent commentator on our show.

‘Some things don’t change, though. Alan [Shearer] is still here.’

After being dismissed by Plymouth Argyle on December 31st of the previous year, Rooney ventured into a career as a sports commentator or analyst (punditry).

It’s thought that he entered into an affluent contract, estimated at approximately £800,000 per year, for his involvement with Match of the Day.

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2025-08-17 10:48