WAYNE ROONEY’S step away from management and in to punditry appears to have paid dividends.

The former England captain, 41, was named pundit of the year at the Broadcast Sport awards.

Rooney was a popular figure in his first managerial role at Derby, but underwhelming spells at DC United and Plymouth sandwiched a disastrous stint at Birmingham City.

And in September he said he may never manage again, as he focuses on his punditry.

That new focus appears to have immediately paid off with the Man Utd legend being named Britain’s best behind the mic.

And fans immediately felt they knew the reason Rooney had been given the award.

One posted: “He earned it with his review of the World Cup final halftime show. Couldn’t have said it better myself”

And another commented: “He nailed it with that World Cup halftime review. Couldn’t agree more”

After the controversial World Cup final half-time show, Rooney delivered the bluntest of verdicts live on BBC.

He said: “I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap.”

And Rooney could be about to give viewers even more exciting moments in the coming weeks as he heads to the jungle for I’m A Celeb.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Coleen proved to be hugely popular when she took part two years ago and bosses think Wayne is going to match her success.”

Rooney seemed a bit taken aback when he was named the country’s best pundit.

He said: “I didn’t realise how tough it was going to be when I first started doing it.

“I’ve always been my own biggest critic. And even now, I need to improve.

“I need to get better, and it’s a lot of hard work.

“I do look at other pundits who have been there a long time. I see how they do it. I enjoy it, it keeps me involved in football.

“You do see [criticism online]. It drives me to do better.

“I always feel when I do something I want to do better and be the best I can.”