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Wayne Rooney 'lands €927k deal' as new Match of the Day pundit
Wayne Rooney 'lands €927k deal' as new Match of the Day pundit

Irish Daily Mirror

time07-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Irish Daily Mirror

Wayne Rooney 'lands €927k deal' as new Match of the Day pundit

Wayne Rooney has reportedly signed a €927,000 contract to serve as a pundit on Match of the Day starting from next season. The England legend is set to join the BBC's flagship programme following Gary Lineker's exit as its presenter. Lineker had been at the helm of the show for 25 years before stepping down at the conclusion of the previous season. He was due to continue hosting FA Cup matches and the upcoming World Cup next summer, but he parted ways with the BBC entirely after a controversy over a social media post containing an alleged anti-Semetic trope. His shoes have been filled by Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, who will take turns presenting Match of the Day and its Sunday counterpart, Match of the Day 2. Joining this trio will be Rooney, who is set to feature as a pundit, according to The Sun. Since his dismissal as Plymouth manager on New Year's Eve, Rooney has been dabbling in more punditry work on both the BBC and Sky Sports. The agreement reportedly includes the option for a two-year extension, and it's anticipated that Rooney will join the likes of Alan Shearer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Hart as a pundit for the World Cup, reports the Mirror. Rooney, 39, holds the record for the most goals scored for Manchester United and held the same record for England at the time of his retirement, a record since broken by Harry Kane. He first made waves at his childhood club Everton before transferring to Old Trafford, where he netted 253 goals in 559 appearances, clinching five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy along the way. Rooney made his way back to Everton in 2017 before jetting off to the US to join DC United. He took on the dual role of player-manager at Derby in 2020, where he eventually retired from playing. After a stint managing DC United once more, Rooney faced challenging times with Birmingham and Plymouth. This new chapter could mark the end of his time in management. Lineker, who presented his last Match of the Day in May, left viewers with heartfelt parting words. "Alan [Shearer] and Micah [Richards], I suspect our paths will cross again very shortly," he expressed. He seized the moment to express gratitude to his colleagues: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I've had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years, you've made my job so much easier." Lineker also paid tribute to the unseen heroes behind the scenes: "Also, a huge thank you to those you don't see at home: the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort. From the editors, to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to the subs, thank you all, you're the very best." Reflecting on his career, he joked: "Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits. It's been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It's been utterly joyous. I'd like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly for when they sit in this chair - the programme is in the best of hands. "And my final thank you goes to all of you. Thank you for watching. Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. It's been so special - and I'm sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye. Goodbye."

Wayne Rooney 'lands £800k deal' to be Match of the Day pundit after Lineker exit
Wayne Rooney 'lands £800k deal' to be Match of the Day pundit after Lineker exit

Daily Mirror

time06-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mirror

Wayne Rooney 'lands £800k deal' to be Match of the Day pundit after Lineker exit

Manchester United and England icon Wayne Rooney is reportedly set to join new Match of the Day hosts Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates as a pundit from next season Wayne Rooney has reportedly signed an £800,000 deal to be a pundit on Match of the Day from next season. The England icon will join the BBC's flagship show following the departure of Gary Lineker as its host. Lineker had fronted the programme for 25 years before departing at the end of last season. He had been due to continue hosting FA Cup fixtures and next summer's World Cup, but left the BBC altogether after controversy surrounding a social media post containing an anti-Semetic trope. ‌ He has been replaced by Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates who will rotate as host of Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2, the Sunday highlights show. ‌ And the trio will be joined by Rooney who will appear as a pundit, report The Sun. Rooney has dipped his toe into more punditry on the BBC and Sky Sports since he was sacked as Plymouth manager on New Year's Eve. The deal is said to include the opportunity of a two-year extension, while Rooney is expected to feature as a pundit on the World Cup alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Hart. Rooney, 39, is Manchester United's record goal scorer and held the England record at the time of his retirement. Harry Kane has since surpassed his tally for the Three Lions. He burst on to the scene at boyhood club Everton before moving to Old Trafford where he scored 253 times in 559 appearances, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League along the way. Rooney returned to Everton in 2017 before heading Stateside to DC United. He became player-manager at Derby in 2020, where he hung up his boots. He then returned to Washington to manage DC United, before unsuccessful spells at Birmingham and Plymouth. This latest career move could signal an end to his managerial aspirations. ‌ Lineker hosted his final Match of the Day in May, and signed off with an emotional statement. "Alan [Shearer] and Micah [Richards], I suspect our paths will cross again very shortly," he said. "Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I've had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years, you've made my job so much easier. ‌ "Also, a huge thank you to those you don't see at home: the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort. From the editors, to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to the subs, thank you all, you're the very best. "Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits. It's been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It's been utterly joyous. I'd like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly for when they sit in this chair - the programme is in the best of hands. "And my final thank you goes to all of you. Thank you for watching. Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. It's been so special - and I'm sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye. Goodbye." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Gary Lineker's next steps as he's warned to 'tread carefully or lose millions'
Gary Lineker's next steps as he's warned to 'tread carefully or lose millions'

Daily Mirror

time26-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mirror

Gary Lineker's next steps as he's warned to 'tread carefully or lose millions'

Gary Lineker's future is up in the air following his departure from the BBC after he reshared an anti-Semetic social media post with millions of pounds now at stake Gary Lineker will be keen to " stay in the spotlight" following his departure from the BBC - or risk losing millions, an expert has confirmed. This weekend, the former Tottenham Hotspur and England forward finally left Match of the Day after 26 years of presenting. Lineker made his goodbyes while holding back the tears in what was an emotional final episode for the 64-year-old. The former striker announced he was leaving the BBC altogether soon after he shared a social media video criticising Israel which featured an emoji of a rat. ‌ Not long after deleting the post, Lineker apologised and stated that he would be s tepping down from the BBC permanently following the end of the 2024/25 season. ‌ The Mirror spoke with Mayah Riaz, celebrity PR and personal branding expert, who said the BBC has definitely slammed the door shut on any future collaborations with Gary. "But this isn't curtains for him, it's more of a curveball for his image, maybe even a pivot opportunity," she explained. "Gary isn't not one to fade quietly into the background; he'll absolutely want to stay in the spotlight, as he has done most of his life. " ITV might seem like the obvious next step, but I wouldn't rule out him exploring more 'offbeat' options. A different station or even radio might feel like a downgrade on the surface, but those routes could give him the creative freedom he craves. I don't think he'll be chasing headline-grabbing roles, as he's too savvy for that." The PR expert highlighted that for Gary, who has been a Walker's Crisps brand ambassador for 30 years, there are still opportunities for brand partnerships. While some risk averse brands might hesitate, his loyal fanbase is remains a major asset. However, Lineker's faux-pas will certainly have a financial impact. ‌ "It could easily run into the millions in lost endorsements, appearance fees, broadcasting contracts," said Mayah. "But if Gary's team focuses on a clever rebrand for a smart media comeback, this may be book deals or launching his own media platform, this could turn this PR nightmare into a fresh chapter. ‌ "He's already a podcast powerhouse, and sponsors will absolutely line up if he taps into his authentic voice. Whether it's sports, politics, or even social issues (as long as he treads carefully post-controversy), there's a path forward. "He's got that trusted 'everyman' charm that people connect with. The real key here is how his team controls the narrative after this chapter, because that's often more valuable than the crisis itself." Mayah added: "If the fallout sticks, he's probably looking at a £1-3 million hit from lost deals and contracts. But Gary's not going anywhere. If he plays his PR cards right, he can recover a fair bit of that with a smart reinvention. It's not the end for him, just an expensive detour.' ‌ The presenter paid an emotional farewell to his colleagues at the BBC during his final episode of the flagship Premier League highlights programme on Sunday night. He said: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all the pundits I've worked with over the years, you've made my job a lot easier. Rather like my football career everyone else did all the hard work and I got all the plaudits.' Initially, Lineker was only going to step down from presenting weekly highlights of the Premier League on the show, but continue presenting live FA Cup coverage and the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, before stepping away after the latter. However, his social media post hastened his exit from the Beeb. Confirming his imminent departure last Monday, he said: " Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. ‌ "I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic – it goes against everything I stand for. "However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.' BBC Director-General Tim Davie has also issued the following statement: "Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season. Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. "His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond. We want to thank him for the contribution he has made." Going forward, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates will present Match of the Day next season. The Sun reports that the trio are now competing to step into Gary's shoes as the lead presenter of the BBC's World Cup coverage.

Gary Lineker's final Match of the Day: Tears, farewells... nothing to see here
Gary Lineker's final Match of the Day: Tears, farewells... nothing to see here

Yahoo

time26-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Gary Lineker's final Match of the Day: Tears, farewells... nothing to see here

Match of the Day began with footage of some of his greatest footballing moments, goals for Leicester, for Everton, for Barcelona, and finally his head back, arms aloft delight after equalising against West Germany in 1990. It ended with a ten-minute package in which Gary Lineker's friends and colleagues paid fulsome tributes. Alan Shearer: 'Match of the Day means the world to him.' Micah Richards: 'When you think of Match of the Day, you think of Gary Lineker.' Alan Hansen, Gazza, Pep, you name it. The man himself ended his final broadcast with: 'Rather like my football career, others did the hard work and I got all the plaudits… Thank you for all your love and support over the years, it has been so special, and I am sorry your team was always on last. It's time to say goodbye.' Cue Italian opera. Tears. So a lovely, uncomplicated farewell to a treasured broadcaster, right? Well, no. There was something that didn't feel right, something elephanty in the room, and we're not talking about his ears. Lineker's opening gambit communicated that this might not to be an uncomplicated or uncompromised celebration, and he conveyed this with his trademark gentle humour: 'It wasn't meant to end this way… but with the Title race over and the relegation places confirmed, the Champions League was all we had left to talk about.' Vintage Gary. Manchester City commentator Mark Scott got in on the act, saying: 'So one of the best in the business makes his final appearance in front of the Match of the Day cameras and you can of course say the same about Kevin de Bruyne here.' Boom and furthermore boom. Arne Slot said 'thanks for being a great presenter' and joked about giving the former Everton man a Liverpool shirt. The lightest of light banter, and yet the mood was off. It wasn't meant to end this way. Too right. Depending on your point of view, he went out with full honours, warm farewells after years of superb stewardship, quitting while he's still at the top, but gone too soon and too unfairly. For others, no mention, not even a hint, that things had come to an unceremonious end after he reposted social media content linking Jewish people with vermin. Sunday night's show pulled off the delicate balancing act of being unsatisfactory for both sides of a polarised debate. So how did we get here? In March 2023, he took aim at the government's asylum policy and said some of the language it employed 'was not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s'. But it turned out that he wasn't such an authority on that period of history after all: fast forward to this month and he's pleading ignorance about the anti-Semetic trope of Jewish people being rats that was used by… well, you know who it was used by and the era they used it. Even his staunchest defenders had to admit that he'd snookered himself with this 'if you know your history' double standard. And his enemies couldn't believe their luck. One suspects that the number of people who truly, seriously think Gary Lineker hates Jews is not a large one but that doesn't really matter because he offered a gaping open goal to those who cannot stand him and they gleefully tucked the chance away. Painful though it is to write about a boyhood hero, they were within their rights, on this occasion at least. Somebody in his position just cannot act as he did. And a unique position it had become. Lineker is, of course, partly famous because of being on the telly but his cachet and his difficulties alike stem not from his faultless work presenting sport on the BBC but his presence and clout on Twitter and Instagram. Thus, he has been hoist by his own petard and there is a sense of inevitability about it: if you will keep wading into the social media cesspool to talk politics and hot-button topics, eventually you are going to get covered in muck. After securing at least a winning draw with the Beeb bosses following the solidarity walkout and his MOTD reinstatement in 2023, had he come to view himself as untouchable? Had he begun to feel that the BBC was more trouble than it was worth and that he could express himself more freely via his podcasts? Did he underestimate BBC Sport head honcho Alex Kay-Jelski when he sniffed 'he has got no television experience' to The Telegraph's Oliver Brown? Had he taken too literally the suggestion made by well-meaning liberal commentators and chums that he had a duty to act as a moral spokesman and national conscience; to, as Danny Kelly wrote in Esquire magazine, 'sail fearlessly forth into the choppy waters of contemporary politics to such great effect that smart people have been moved to declare him the Unofficial Leader of the Opposition'? Only Gary himself could say. But on another question, lots of people have a crystal clear view: Lineker should not have been given this send-off with full honours, trailing it on his Instagram with 'one last time' on Sunday afternoon, signing off with a montage, and a metaphorical guard of honour from his ex-pro colleagues, in the BBC Sport equivalent of the 21-gun salute. Certainly this was not acceptable in the opinion of Leo Pearlman, chief executive at Fulwell Entertainment (Class of 92, Sunderland Til I Die), for instance, who said: 'Effectively offering him a hero's farewell, despite the fact that he is leaving the corporation because of his use of an anti-Semitic trope comparing Jews to vermin, is deeply disturbing.' Nor for Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, who said: 'He should not be allowed a final swansong. If the racist content had been directed at another community I do not believe a presenter would be allowed to carry on for another week.' Yet carry on for another week he did. The montage was a celebration of Lineker's two brilliant careers but it is hard to think of anything to celebrate about this final appearance. His powerful management team had managed to get his departure couched in the language of 'stepping back' and 'stepping down', and he was allowed to at least partially choreograph his own exit. But overall it feels like a lose-lose: people outraged and hurt by his emoji shocker think he's basically got away with it and that the BBC have ignored their pain yet again on a hugely sensitive topic. Meanwhile, some of his fans will feel he's been forced out unfairly, a decent and humane guy slain by right-wing haters over an honest mistake. The man himself and his family surely didn't envisage this sort of compromised, soured closing act to what had been the greatest of all post-playing media careers. Had he resigned from the BBC and said, 'what is happening in Palestine is so important to me and it is so wrong that I need to use my voice come what may and if speaking out means I don't get to host the football highlights any more then I'm okay with that', then he would have deserved, and perhaps received, great respect even from his detractors. As it is, he's had the bum's rush for reposting and amplifying anti-Semitic tropes. What a bloody shame, and it could surely all have been avoided, had he just thought it through. Perhaps there was nobody around him to act as he once alerted Bobby Robson to do for Gazza, to offer that wise word of caution. The paragon who was never booked is forever tainted by this episode. Ron Manager will be bereft. 'I had to work hard at football but it came naturally, whereas television didn't come naturally. It took a lot of hard work and effort and determination and studying of other people and how they do it. Eventually I got there,' Lineker said on an episode of the Beyond The Title podcast last week. But somewhere along the way, he stopped studying how other people do it and started to act in a singular fashion: nobody else before had taken the BBC sport millions and the status conferred by his office while riding roughshod over its impartiality rules, and nobody will in the future. A wonderful player who became a brilliant broadcaster, we may never see his like again, but the sadness is that his actions over the last two years will make many people say: and thank goodness for that. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

International student recounts ‘numb' feeling after receiving email about her potential deportation
International student recounts ‘numb' feeling after receiving email about her potential deportation

Yahoo

time13-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

International student recounts ‘numb' feeling after receiving email about her potential deportation

Priya Saxena, center, receives congratulations from her attorney, Jim Leach, foreground, after graduating with a master's and doctoral degree from South Dakota Mines on May 10, 2025, in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) RAPID CITY — Priya Saxena was staying up late to read comments about her doctoral dissertation around 1 a.m. on April 7 when she saw the message in her email. 'I was numb at the time,' she testified through tears Tuesday in a Rapid City courtroom, where she continued her fight to remain in the country. The email from U.S. immigration officials said her visa was revoked. Saxena called some friends and holed up in her bedroom. 'I was scared,' she said, 'and I had no idea what to do next.' Her fear was based on the realization that 'I could be deported at any time,' she said. A student from India, she was less than a month away from graduating with master's and doctoral degrees from South Dakota Mines, something she'd been working toward for five years. Noem's honorary degree sparks protest; meanwhile, a student she's trying to deport earns a doctorate Her visa revocation was triggered by a criminal records check of international students undertaken by the Trump administration. The check turned up a four-year-old misdemeanor traffic conviction against Saxena, for failing to pull over for an emergency vehicle in Meade County. The check also turned up a charge of driving under the influence against her from the same 2021 traffic stop, but her blood tested within the legal limit and the charge was dismissed. She had disclosed those legal matters to immigration officials when she obtained her most recent visa in 2022. The criminal records check was part of a broader action by the Trump administration against more than 1,000 international students nationwide, not only for items appearing on their records but also for activity the administration described as 'anti-Semetic,' such as publicly protesting Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. The administration initially terminated students' records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which is used by colleges to verify and manage international student eligibility. Then the administration backtracked, leaving students such as Saxena with restored educational status but in limbo with their visas and their future. Saxena testified that she decided to book a plane ticket to India and leave the country voluntarily, but then postponed the ticket and ultimately canceled it after speaking to a defense attorney in Rapid City, Jim Leach. Since then, they've sued U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — the former governor of South Dakota — and Noem's agency. The lawsuit alleges it's illegal for the government to instigate an immigration enforcement action against Saxena for something the government already knew about before it issued her current visa. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With her degrees now in hand, and her visa not scheduled to expire until 2027, Saxena would like to apply for a program that allows international students to remain in the country and work in fields related to their degrees. Saxena has a doctorate in chemical and biological engineering and a master's in chemical engineering. U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier granted Saxena a temporary restraining order last month and extended it long enough for her to walk across the graduation stage and collect her degrees on Saturday at South Dakota Mines — the same day Noem appeared at another South Dakota institution, Dakota State University in Madison, to receive an honorary degree and deliver a commencement address. Noem was met by hundreds of protesters outside that ceremony. On Tuesday, as Saxena was in court in Rapid City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement was conducting a 'worksite enforcement action' in Madison, where the agency made an undisclosed number of arrests at two Madison businesses. ICE makes arrests in South Dakota city where Noem was subjected to a protest three days earlier Saxena's restraining order is scheduled to expire at the end of this week. Her court hearing Tuesday was about her request for a temporary injunction. That would stop the government from pursuing any further immigration enforcement proceedings against her while her lawsuit is pending. Judge Schreier heard testimony and arguments and said she'll issue a written decision in the next few days. Leach argued that Saxena needs protection from unlawful and unpredictable actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He referenced the agency's widespread deportation efforts under President Donald Trump and its shifting policies. 'Everybody's afraid of ICE now, and she's afraid,' Leach said of Saxena. Michaele Hofmann, an assistant U.S. attorney, argued that a temporary injunction would improperly restrain the government from taking further action if Saxena engages in additional criminal activity, or if Saxena violates the terms of her U.S. residency in other ways. Hofmann argued that if a temporary injunction is granted, it should be narrowly tailored to allow the government to act in response to those possibilities.

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