Wayne Rooney is set to return to the Match of the Day studio this weekend, following a summer marked by several major changes in both his personal life and professional career. The former Manchester United and England star has undergone surgery, made a noticeable change to his appearance and taken on an exciting new broadcasting role ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Rooney will initially return to the BBC’s popular football programme to analyse the opening weekend of Premier League action. He will join presenter Mark Chapman and fellow former England striker Alan Shearer as they discuss the weekend’s fixtures and assess the performances of the league’s biggest clubs.

The programme returns on Saturday, August 22, with coverage of the opening round of matches. Among the fixtures attracting plenty of attention is Manchester United’s trip to newly promoted Hull City. Rooney’s return to television comes after a busy summer in which the 40-year-old has undergone surgery and continued to establish himself in football broadcasting.

A noticeable change in Rooney’s appearance

One of the most obvious changes has been Rooney’s physical transformation. During his recent television appearances, viewers were quick to notice that the former striker appeared considerably slimmer than in previous years.

Rooney attracted particular attention while working as a pundit during the World Cup. His noticeably leaner appearance quickly became a talking point among football supporters, with many taking to social media to comment on the change.

Several fans praised the former United star for appearing healthier and fitter. Some also pointed out that Rooney had adopted a clean-shaven appearance, which gave him a noticeably different look compared with some of his previous television appearances.

The comments ranged from observations that Rooney looked significantly thinner to praise for his healthier appearance. While supporters naturally speculated about how much weight he had lost, the biggest takeaway was simply how different he looked compared with earlier periods of his post-playing career.

The transformation comes as Rooney continues to build a new chapter of his career away from professional football. Since retiring from playing, he has moved increasingly towards management, punditry and media work.

Rooney lands a new broadcasting role

Alongside his BBC duties, Rooney has also taken on a new role with United-focused content creator Mark Goldbridge.

The pair have launched a new programme called Stick to United with Wayne Rooney. The show is part of Gary Neville’s growing Overlap media operation and is dedicated to discussing Manchester United.

The programme gives Rooney an opportunity to provide his perspective on the club where he became one of the most successful players of his generation. His experience of playing for United, combined with his knowledge of the modern game, makes him a particularly interesting figure for supporters.

The partnership with Goldbridge also brings together two very different perspectives on Manchester United. Rooney offers the viewpoint of a former player who experienced life inside the dressing room, while Goldbridge is well known for his passionate and often outspoken analysis of the club.

The new show forms part of a wider agreement with Disney+, with plans for dozens of episodes across the season. Reports indicate that 50 episodes of Stick to United and 40 episodes of Stick to Football are scheduled to be distributed during the campaign.

Neville launched The Overlap in 2021, and the platform has since grown beyond football to include coverage of other sports such as rugby and cricket. The addition of Rooney and Goldbridge represents another step in its expansion.

Neville has previously emphasised the importance of growing the platform while maintaining its distinctive identity. Rooney’s involvement therefore gives the operation another high-profile former footballer capable of attracting a large audience.

Surgery finally addresses long-standing nose injury

Rooney’s summer has not been limited to television work and his changing appearance. He has also undergone an operation to repair a broken nose that had troubled him for almost a decade.

The former Manchester United forward discussed the procedure during the first episode of Stick to United. He explained that he had originally broken his nose during Manchester United’s FA Cup victory over Preston around 11 years ago.

The injury occurred during a match that also became memorable because of controversy surrounding a penalty incident. Rooney later suffered further damage to his nose during his time playing for DC United.

Despite doctors recommending surgery, Rooney admitted that he repeatedly delayed the procedure. For years, he simply continued without having the problem properly corrected.

Eventually, he decided that the summer would be the right time to deal with the injury. With the World Cup commitments completed, Rooney finally underwent surgery.

He explained that the operation had gone well but admitted that the recovery process was uncomfortable. In particular, he revealed that plastic tubes had temporarily been placed inside his nose and that he was eager to have them removed.

Rooney also noted that he had stitches following the procedure but was pleased that he had avoided significant bruising around his eyes.

A new chapter after playing

The combination of Rooney’s physical transformation, surgery and expanding media career highlights how different his life has become since leaving professional football.

During his playing days, Rooney was known for his powerful style, goalscoring ability and extraordinary competitiveness. He became Manchester United’s record goalscorer and won numerous major trophies during his career, including multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Now, his focus is increasingly on analysing football rather than playing it. His work with the BBC gives viewers the opportunity to hear his opinions on Premier League matches, while Stick to United allows him to speak more specifically about the club that played such an important role in his career.

His return to Match of the Day is therefore another important part of that transition. Rooney can now use his experience of playing at the highest level to provide insight into tactics, individual performances and the pressures faced by modern footballers.

With the new Premier League season underway, Rooney has plenty to discuss. Manchester United’s progress will naturally be a major focus, particularly given his close relationship with the club and his understanding of the expectations surrounding the team.

For supporters who remember Rooney as one of United’s greatest modern forwards, seeing him back on television in a punditry role offers a very different way of following his career.

His summer has ultimately brought several significant developments: a dramatic change in his appearance, long-awaited surgery, a new programme with Goldbridge and another season as a prominent football analyst.

Rather than stepping away from the game after retirement, Rooney appears to be building an increasingly influential second career in football media. His return to the BBC, combined with his new Manchester United-focused programme, suggests that his voice will remain a familiar presence throughout the 2026/27 season.