Wayne Rooney announces he's leaving BBC Euro 2024 coverage with immediate effect

Wayne Rooney confirmed that he will be departing his position as a BBC pundit after the group stage, with a stalemate between Belgium and Ukraine his final match as a Euro 2024 pundit.

The new Plymouth head coach is jetting back to England to gear up for the coming Championship season, after fixtures were released for the 2024/25 campaign on Wednesday.

Beeb host Gary Lineker teased that Rooney would be leaving the studio to head back to Plymouth, saying: “Wayne, it’s your last time here because you were gonna stay longer but you’ve got a job. When does it start?”

To which Rooney responded: “I fly home tomorrow. The lads are back in on the third of July so I’ll be home and straight down to Plymouth.

“Yeah the excitement was there again today. When you see the fixtures, you’re looking through the opening games, the Christmas schedule and stuff. Really Excited.”

The released fixtures confirmed that Rooney’s first game in charge of the second-tier side will be against Sheffield Wednesday on August 11.

Alan Shearer, sharing the panel, playfully jabbed: “Wait till the pundits start criticising you!” Before Lineker wished him well: “We wish you all the best Wayne.”

After returning to management with Plymouth, Rooney said: “Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the chairman and board for the faith they have shown in me.

“This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.

“I have experienced first-hand how talented the existing group of players is here – and also the incredible atmosphere at Home Park.

“The club is on an exciting long-term journey, with a progressive plan in place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it. I can’t wait for the Championship season to start in August.”