Football legend Graeme Souness has delivered a surprising verdict on the current state of sports broadcasting, singling out Wayne Rooney for praise while admitting he mutes the sound when other pundits are speaking.
From Pitch to Punditry: Rooney's New Role
The 72-year-old Scotsman, who ended his own 15-year stint as a Sky Sports pundit after the 2022-23 Premier League season, has been impressed by the former Manchester United striker's transition into television. Rooney has become a regular feature on BBC's Match of the Day this season, reportedly securing an £800,000-a-year deal, while also appearing on his own 'Wayne Rooney Show' and working on Amazon Prime's Champions League coverage.
This move into punditry follows what many considered underwhelming managerial spells at Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle over the past two years. However, Souness believes Rooney has found his niche in the broadcast booth.
Souness's Verdict: Common Sense and Authority
Speaking courtesy of Sky Bet, Souness didn't hold back in his assessment. 'I like listening to Wayne Rooney as a pundit because he talks common sense,' the former Liverpool star stated. 'If you're putting together an all-time Manchester United team, Wayne Rooney is one of the first names on the sheet – he was a real warrior.'
Souness emphasised Rooney's credibility, noting: 'I love Wayne Rooney as a player, and I like to listen to him – he has got authority so I can listen to him.' This glowing review stood in stark contrast to his blunt admission about other broadcast colleagues: 'Some of the other pundits, I turn the sound down.'
The Van Dijk Confrontation and Lasting Impact
Rooney's punditry style has certainly made waves, particularly his recent criticism of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk's leadership during the team's form slump. The former England forward had labelled Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah's mannerisms as a 'big concern', prompting the Dutch defender to initially dismiss the comments as 'lazy'.
The tension came to a head days later when the two men faced each other in a live, pitchside exchange following Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Real Madrid. Van Dijk referenced the criticism his team had been facing, stating: 'In a world of chaos you have to try to stay calm and take the perspective of things.'
He elaborated on the pressure facing modern players: 'If you lose games as a Liverpool player, four or five in a row, it's a fair criticism, but I think it's over the top at times as well.' The captain did acknowledge, however, that perspective from former players who've 'dealt with difficult moments' could be valuable.
Rooney lightened the tense moment by joking: 'I'm not saying anything any more, I think I've spurred them on and put them on a winning streak!' He stood by his original comments, defending them as 'fair' given Liverpool's recent performances, while acknowledging the team's positive response.
This isn't the only time Rooney's opinions have made headlines recently. He also suggested Chelsea players should 'privately question' manager Enzo Maresca's rotation policy, prompting the Blues boss to defend his approach by noting criticism only emerges when his side doesn't win.
As Souness's comments reveal, Rooney's bold, authoritative style is already dividing opinion in the broadcasting world, marking a significant new chapter for the former United star after his managerial disappointments.
