Wayne Rooney will form part of BT Sport’s pundit team for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first match as interim manager of Manchester United away against Cardiff City.
Old Trafford legend Solskjaer was appointed by United on Wednesday until the end of the season after Jose Mourinho was sacked earlier this week.
The Norwegian’s first game in charge will be against Cardiff – the club that gave him is only other, ill-fated, Premier League managerial experience in 2014 – on Saturday and Rooney has been brought in to provide analysis on a fellow former United striker.
Rooney, who enjoyed a farewell appearance for England against the United States at Wembley in November, is free from his club commitments with MLS club DC United following their run to the Eastern Conference playoffs last season.
He will reportedly be joined in the BT Sport studio by former Cardiff defender and retired Wales international Danny Gabbidon.
Rooney cemented his place in United’s history by becoming the club’s all-time record goalscorer before leaving to rejoin boyhood club Everton in 2017, and he took to social media to react positively to Solskjaer’s appointment as Mourinho’s successor.
“Just want to wish Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all the best in his new position,” Rooney wrote alongside a picture of him alongside the Norwegian during his United playing days. “Good luck mate!”
Just want to wish Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all the best in his new position. Good luck mate! #mufc #tbt pic.twitter.com/8EENRvxH2Z
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) December 20, 2018
Mourinho’s departure did not appear to be an unpopular decision among the United players, with only a handful expressing fondness or gratitude towards their sacked manager on social media.