26 February 2024 , 17:01
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Wayne Rooney will put his search for a new managerial job on hold on Wednesday to cover Manchester United as a pundit for the BBC.
Rooney has been without a job since being sacked by Birmingham City on January 2 following a dreadful run of results. The 38-year-old won just two of his 15 matches in charge of the Championship side, but remains committed to coaching following previous spells at Derby County and DC United.
He recently said he would be willing to drop down as low as League Two for his next job – and has been courted by Misfits boxing – but in the meantime he is turning his hand to punditry. His former club United are playing away at Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday and the BBC have hired him as one of their pundits.
“Watching the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup every year was always very special growing up,” Rooney said. "I’m so excited to be joining up with the team to cover what will undoubtedly be an action-packed tie in this historic competition. Having played and managed in the competition, it’s great to be on the other side of the camera this time and hopefully I can bring some of that FA Cup experience to the coverage.”
As the Premier League ’s third-highest and England’s second-highest goalscorer, Rooney’s thoughts on the game are sure to be in high demand while he remains available. But the former striker is clear that his future remains in management, rather than punditry.
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“I would, 100 per cent [take a job in League One],” he said on the Stick to Football podcast recently. “I want to get back into managing and I want to prove myself – whether that’s League Two, League One or Championship. It’s all experience – I’m only 38, I’ve had three managerial jobs. I’ve got quite a bit of experience, like with Derby in administration, and going out to the States.
“I’ve got a bit of experience to lean on now, I’m still young in terms of a manager. I want to focus on getting back into management. The main thing for me is to completely cut out what I’ve done as a player and almost start again as a manager.
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"Of course, my playing experience will help me, but I’m right at the bottom from a managerial point of view, and I want to work my way up. I’m not relying on what I’ve done as a player to get me into places that I shouldn’t be.”
Mirror Sport revealed on February 14 that Rooney had held talks with Misfits boxing over potentially stepping into the ring. He has since clarified his stance on the idea, telling Gary Neville : “Never know. No, erm they’ve been in touch and asked the question but at the minute I want to focus on getting back into management, not boxing.”
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