Saturday night television had a familiar glow again as Match of the Day returned, but this time with a new face leading the charge.
At 10:20pm, Mark Chapman stepped confidently into the role that Gary Lineker had made his own for 25 years, welcoming football fans back to a show that has become part of British culture.
“Good evening,” Chapman opened with calm authority. “Match of the Day is back – and the Premier League is back.
Now you may have heard, but there’s a big change this season… Wayne Rooney is joining us as a regular pundit.”
It was a playful introduction, a nod to tradition, and the beginning of a new chapter.
Stepping Into Lineker’s Shoes
Lineker had always set the tone with witty quips and dad jokes, but Chapman had no intention of being a copy.
Instead, he leaned on his own decade-long experience fronting Match of the Day 2.
While the pressure of Saturday primetime was obvious, he settled into the role like a midfielder finding his first easy pass in a big game.
Alongside him this season, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will share presenting duties, ensuring the baton is carried smoothly into a new era without losing the warmth fans expect.
Rooney Makes His Punditry Debut
The night’s biggest talking point was, of course, Wayne Rooney.
The former Manchester United captain and England legend joined Alan Shearer on the punditry panel.
There was laughter straight away when Chapman joked about Sunderland’s opening match against West Ham – a game Shearer, a Newcastle hero, had to cover with extra enthusiasm.
Rooney, still adjusting to life as a pundit, provided sharp insights, particularly when discussing Sunderland – a side he faced last season while managing Plymouth.
“I’ve got first-hand experience of playing against them – and we beat them,” he said with a wry grin.
Honest Takes and Sharp Analysis
Where Rooney really stood out was in his honesty.
During the analysis of Aston Villa’s goalless draw with Newcastle, Chapman asked whether Eddie Howe could turn Anthony Gordon into a striker, just as he had reinvented Joelinton as a midfielder.
“No,” Rooney replied bluntly, without hesitation.
His willingness to give unfiltered opinions – even touching on his own difficult moments at Manchester United – showed a refreshing candor not every pundit brings.
Shearer, meanwhile, delivered his trademark passionate assessments, making the partnership between the two ex-pros a strong foundation for the show’s future.
From Light-Hearted Banter to Serious Moments
Chapman’s strength as a host shone through as he shifted gears seamlessly.
From laughing along with Shearer’s old tweets about Newcastle’s transfer choices to discussing the racism faced by Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, he navigated both heavy and light topics with balance.
The programme also found time to honour tributes for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva before returning to the weekend’s football action.
The Perfect Sign-Off
By the end, it was clear Match of the Day hadn’t lost its spark.
As Shearer and Rooney debated the future of Hugo Ekitike at Liverpool, Chapman cheekily reminded Shearer of his own social media post questioning why Isak would want to join the Reds.
“Alan,” Chapman said with a grin, “I can’t imagine why you did that!”
The exchange had the panel chuckling – and no doubt plenty of fans at home too.
Match of the Day Still Feels Like Home
For a show that has been on air for 60 years, the recipe remains the same: a mix of humour, analysis, and the weekend’s best football moments.
Chapman closed the programme with words that summed it up perfectly:
“The more things change, the more things stay the same. Gabby is here tomorrow. Goodnight.”
And with that, football fans across the nation could breathe easy – the soul of Match of the Day is still intact.
