Graeme Souness has spoken candidly about his experiences listening to football pundits, admitting there are times he has to turn the volume down—but he reserved high praise for Wayne Rooney.
The former Liverpool star, who spent over 15 years as a Sky Sports pundit before stepping away at the end of the 2022-23 Premier League season, singled out Rooney for his authority and common sense when analysing games.
Rooney’s Transition from Pitch to Studio
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United and England’s record goalscorer, has become a regular voice on the BBC’s Match of the Day this season, reportedly on a lucrative £800,000-a-year deal.
The ex-striker has also shared his insights on Amazon Prime’s Champions League coverage and the Wayne Rooney Show.
Rooney’s broadcasting career comes after relatively short managerial stints at Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle, which were less successful than fans might have hoped.
Despite this, Souness believes Rooney has found his stride in punditry.
Souness on Rooney’s Authority and Insight
Souness praised Rooney’s commentary, noting that his analysis reflects the experience and instinct of a player who performed at the highest level.
“I like listening to Wayne Rooney as a pundit because he talks common sense,” Souness said.
“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.
I love Wayne Rooney as a player, and I like to listen to him – he has got authority so I can listen to him.
Some of the other pundits, I turn the sound down.”
The Van Dijk Exchange
Rooney recently made headlines for a pitchside exchange with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk following their 1-0 win over Real Madrid.
Rooney criticised Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s leadership approach during a slump in Liverpool’s form, labelling certain behaviours a “big concern.”
Van Dijk later addressed the comments on Amazon Prime, defending his team while acknowledging Rooney’s perspective.
“In a world of chaos you have to try to stay calm and take the perspective of things… 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,” he said.
Rooney Responds With Humour
Rooney took the situation in stride, joking that he might have inadvertently motivated Liverpool to perform better.
He also stood by his criticism, explaining it was fair to challenge the team’s leadership during difficult moments.
“What I’ve said was fair. When you win the Premier League and go on a run where you lose games in a row that you don’t expect of the Liverpool of the last few years… Virgil as captain, that’s your opportunity to go and lead the players, and that’s what I was saying,” Rooney said.
Broader Punditry Views
Rooney has also recently weighed in on Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s rotation policy, suggesting that star players should privately question him when needed.
Maresca defended his approach, saying criticism tends to surface only when results don’t go their way and that the rotations ultimately benefit the team.
With his blend of experience, insight, and a willingness to speak frankly, Rooney seems to be carving out a respected place for himself in football broadcasting—earning praise from veterans like Souness while not shying away from making waves with his bold opinions.