Wayne Rooney has hinted that he’s been unhappy with his BBC punditry role after leaving Euro 2024 without having covered an England game.
The Three Lions legend confirmed live on air that he is leaving his punditry role to head back to the UK ahead of his next challenge in football management.
His final game with the broadcasters saw him analyse Belgium’s goalless draw with Ukraine on Wednesday and he’s now lifted the lid on his experience in Germany.
Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Rooney reflected on his time with the BBC and said: ‘Yeah, it’s been okay. Obviously, it’s different and new to what I’ve been used to.
‘I’ve done TV in the past but [I’ve] spent quite a bit of time here, so yeah it’s been a bit different but I’ve enjoyed it.
Wayne Rooney has hinted that he was unhappy with his BBC punditry role during Euro 2024
The Three Lions legend was disappointed that he wasn’t able to cover a single England match
‘Unfortunately, I haven’t had any of the England games to talk about really and the games I’ve done haven’t been the greatest but it’s nice to spend some time here’.
Two out of England’s three group stage games were selected by the BBC however Rooney was not chosen as a pundit for either of those occasions.
Instead, for England’s opening game against Serbia, the BBC selected Gary Lineker, Cesc Fabregas, Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards as their punditry team.
For the following game against Denmark, Lineker was joined by Ferdinand, Richards and Brentford manager Thomas Frank.
The BBC’s coverage and analysis of England has caused a stir in recent weeks with a number of first-team players hitting back at comments made by BBC host Lineker.
Rooney also reflected on that situation and said: ‘Obviously a lot of the tournaments over the last 20 years I’ve been involved in as a player and now being on the other side and seeing the perspective from a pundits point of view.
‘We’ve seen the back and forward between the England camp and the pundits, so it’s a bit strange. But I think everything that’s been said has been right really and the players and the manager have come out and all said the same things.
‘So it’s a bit strange. You always want to try and be careful but also want to be truthful with the words you give’.
The BBC opted for Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Cesc Fabregas and Micah Richards (left to right) as their punditry team for England’s opening match at Euro 2024 against Serbia
Lineker, Ferdinand, Richards and Thomas Frank (second from right) were selected for the Three Lions’ second group stage match against Denmark – with Rooney being left out
Rooney, instead, was on hand to do punditry for matches such as Belgium’s draw with Romania
The Three Lions will take on Slovakia in their last-16 game at Euro 2024 on Sunday afternoon
Rooney now heads back to England to undertake his new role as Plymouth Argyle manager, ahead of friendlies against Orlando Pirates, Cheltenham, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers and MK Dons in the coming weeks.
‘I fly home tomorrow, the lads are back in on the third of July, so I’ll be home and straight down to Plymouth,’ he said.
Plymouth learned their fixtures for the season earlier on Wednesday and Rooney added: ‘The excitement was there today when you see the fixtures.
‘You look through the opening games, your Christmas schedule and stuff so yeah really excited.’
Plymouth only avoided relegation by a single point last term, and Rooney will hope they won’t be dragged into another battle at the foot of the table in 2024-25.
He is rumoured to be moving with wife Coleen to Salcombe in Devon, a posh seaside town where a pint is £7 and fish and chips are priced at £22.
On Wednesday, Coleen was spotted putting on a leggy display as she ran errands in Cheshire.
The chic ensemble showcased Coleen’s sense of style as she exited a phone shop after spending some time in a beauty salon, as she gets used to her new home.
Coleen Rooney put on a very leggy display in a cream playsuit and chunky sandals on Wednesday as she ran errands in Cheshire
It comes after Coleen was all smiles as she proudly posed with her four sons for an Instagram snap on Tuesday ahead of England’s Euros game against Slovenia
It comes after Coleen proudly posed with her four sons for an Instagram snap on Tuesday following England’s Euros game against Slovenia.
Coleen was joined by her sons Kai, 14, Klay, 10, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, who she shares with husband Wayne.
The couple’s sons all rocked matching sports shirts and shorts while their youngest Cass donned the England football kit.
Rooney appears determined to get things right at Plymouth after a disastrous three-month spell at Birmingham City last season.
He was brought in to replace John Eustace despite the Blues making a positive start to the campaign but proceeded to win just two of his 15 matches at the helm as Birmingham plummeted from sixth to 20th in the Championship.
The Three Lions legend heads back to England ahead of pre-season with new club Plymouth
Rooney, 38, was sacked in January, and Birmingham’s fortunes didn’t improve as they suffered relegation to League One four months later.
After also managing Derby County in the past, Rooney has been given another chance in England’s second tier to prove he can be a success on the touchline.
He now has a few days to settle back into life in England after working for the BBC over in Germany for the past two weeks, before attention turns to pre-season.
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