Wayne Rooney launches new side hustle as Man Utd legend and BBC pundit releases statement

The Sun

2 days ago

WAYNE ROONEY has celebrated the launch of a new post-playing side hustle.
The Manchester United and England legend delved into the punditry and management worlds after bringing the curtain down on his glittering playing career.
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But Wazza can now officially call himself a podcaster after teaming up with the BBC to launch 'The Wayne Rooney Show.'
The 39-year-old and his wife, Colleen, celebrated the launch of his new venture on Friday at a special BBC event.
Rooney proudly posted a snap of himself with his other half at the shindig to his Instagram late last night.
His accompanying caption read: "Great event last night celebrating the start of a new football season with @bbcsport and the launch of my new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show!
"Episode 1 is out now, available on @bbciplayer, @bbcsport YouTube, and @bbcsounds."
Rooney talked about his ill-fated spell in charge of Birmingham City, who he managed for just 83 days, in the first episode of his new show.
And he didn't mince his words when talking about the viral clip of Blues minority owner Tom Brad y questioning his "work ethic".
He said: "I think Tom came in once, which was the day before a game where the days are a little bit lighter anyway.
Wayne Rooney's record-breaking career
WAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.
He quickly became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club's all-time leading goalscorer.
Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.
As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England's second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.
After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.
He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.
However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.
Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.
Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.
However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.
He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.
"And I don't think he really understood football that well.
"But what he does understand is, he's a hard worker, we know that."
He added: "Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively.
"He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest athletes of all time and Birmingham do look like they're getting it right now, which is good.
"And I think what they have done is got the players out that they needed to get out."