Wayne Rooney wins pundit award: ‘I need to be better’

Wayne Rooney has been named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport Awards – but the former Manchester United and England captain insists he still needs to improve.

Rooney received the honour in London on Thursday 5 November after a year in which his BBC analysis, blunt opinions and humour helped establish him as a prominent voice in football broadcasting.

The recognition comes little more than a year after his debut as a full-time Match of the Day pundit in August 2025. His response was typically self-critical.

“I didn’t realise how tough it was going to be when I first started doing it,” Rooney said, as BBC Sport reported after the ceremony.

“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.”

Wayne Rooney wins pundit of the year after BBC breakthrough

Rooney’s award recognised his work during the 2026 World Cup. The official pundit-of-the-year shortlist also included Alan Shearer, Ally McCoist, Emma Hayes, Jamie Carragher, Karen Carney, Neil Hodgson and Sean Rose.

The ceremony took place at the London Hilton on Park Lane, bringing together figures from across the sports broadcasting industry.

Rooney’s playing experience has given him plenty to draw on. He appeared at three World Cups for England and won five Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester United.

But his comments underline that understanding the game and explaining it on television require different skills. Rooney has sought advice from experienced broadcasters and fellow former players, including Shearer, Danny Murphy, Joe Hart and Micah Richards.

“I do look at the other pundits who have been there a long time,” he told BBC Sport. “I see how they do it. I enjoy it, it keeps me involved in football.”

Rooney says criticism drives him to improve

His early Match of the Day appearances drew mixed reactions. Rooney says he notices criticism, but uses it as motivation to develop his broadcasting.

“It drives me to be better,” he said. “I always feel when I do something I want to do better and be the best I can.”

BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski credited that willingness to learn, saying Rooney had worked on both his analysis and delivery and improved substantially in a short period.

Philip Bernie, head of BBC Sport events, also praised his determination and approach to colleagues, describing him as a team player without an ego.

That combination has helped Rooney move beyond the scrutiny surrounding his first appearances. His recent contributions include the Manchester United analysis covered in our report on Rooney and Shearer’s reaction to the Roma comeback.

World Cup humour helped Rooney connect with viewers

Some of Rooney’s most memorable moments came alongside Hart and Richards during the World Cup.

He delivered a blunt verdict on the final’s lengthy half-time entertainment, telling BBC viewers: “I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap.”

He also followed through on a rowing challenge after Norway beat Brazil. Having initially pledged to row down the River Mersey, Rooney adapted the challenge to the tournament’s location and joined Hart and Richards on the Hudson River in New York.

Kay-Jelski said viewers would see more of the trio together on the BBC in coming seasons.

The award recognises Rooney’s progress, but his own assessment remains more demanding: he enjoys the work, wants to stay involved in football and believes there is more to learn.

Who else won at the Broadcast Sport Awards?

Gabby Logan was named sports presenter of the year, while Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood won the sports commentator award for their work on Ski Sunday and the Winter Olympics.

Ultras won the award for sports documentary series.

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