Wayne Rooney reveals medical condition he has that affects his job | OneFootball

Former Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney has opened up on a previously unknown condition that impacts his punditry work.

Former Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is deaf in his left ear, and he has opened up on the impact the condition has had on his punditry work.

After disappointing spells with Birmingham and Plymouth, Rooney has stepped away from management and made a name for himself in the punditry world over the past year.

Rooney controversially replaced John Eustace as Birmingham manager in October 2023 when the club were sitting sixth in the Championship, but after winning just two of his 15 games in charge, he was sacked under three months later with his side languishing just outside the relegation zone.

Despite Rooney's struggles with the Blues, he was handed a surprise Championship lifeline by Plymouth in May 2024, but he did not fare much better with the Pilgrims, and he departed Home Park with the club bottom of the table after winning only five of his 25 games at the helm.

However, while Rooney may have found life tough in the dugout, he has won plenty of admirers for his work as a pundit, and after signing a two-year contract with the BBC in the summer, he regularly appears on Match of the Day, as well as hosting his own weekly podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show.

Rooney has impressed after making the transition from management to the television studio, but the 40-year-old has now spoken out about a medical condition that affects his punditry work, revealing that he is deaf in his left ear.

During a behind-the-scenes look into what happens before Match of the Day goes on air, Rooney is seen being helped to put an earpiece in by a show runner, and the former Manchester United and England legend opened up on his condition.

"Can I do it in this ear? I used to close the talkback," Rooney said in Match of the Day Behind-the-Scenes.

"The problem is I’m deaf in my left ear.

"So when it’s too loud I struggle to hear what Kelly Cates or whoever is saying."

However, despite the challenges posed by his hearing loss, Rooney claimed that he is loving life working on the iconic highlights show, and he shared an insight into how the team prepare for the programme.

"It's such a historic show and it's been with me throughout my whole life so to be on it, from a regular point of view, is strange, especially when you sit down and hear the theme song," Rooney explained.

"There's a lot that goes into the show and a lot that people don't see.

"You're here all day, you're watching the games and trying to give your input whether that's from a tactical point of view or a mindset point of view for the players.

"You try and give the fans the best analysis and detail that you can."

Wayne Rooney drops hint on potential management return amid Manchester United, Everton reveal

After two bruising spells in management with Birmingham and Plymouth, many have questioned whether Rooney will ever return to the touchline, and he seems he may now have permanently shifted his focus to punditry.

Rooney admitted last week that he would only go back into coaching for two of his former clubs, Manchester United and Everton, but as a call from either of the Premier League duo is unlikely to come any time soon, it appears his managerial career may be over.

While Rooney will always feel a sense of frustration about his time in the dugout, particularly the way he fared in his last two jobs, his recent television appearances suggest that he is much better suited to punditry, and as well as regularly featuring on Match of the Day, he will likely be a prominent voice in the BBC's coverage of the World Cup this summer.