The Wayne Rooney Show - Wayne Meets…Big Sam: Why He HATED Subbing Wayne & Diouf’s ULTIMATUM

Download Wayne Meets…Big Sam: Why He HATED Subbing Wayne & Diouf’s ULTIMATUM

Wayne Rooney, Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd sit down with Sam Allardyce for a wide-ranging chat about elite football management. Big Sam breaks down the principles that sustained his career, why he regrets not confronting criticism of his playing style sooner, gives his verdict on managers overcomplicating the game and why he’s encouraged by the Premier League’s evolution this season. He also reflects on working with Wayne: how he wishes he'd managed him earlier and why he never wanted to sub him off. He also shares why he was so disappointed not to be given longer at Everton.

Plus, Sam shares some classic dressing-room stories: from warning a player he had 30 minutes to save himself after a champagne night out, to urging Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to speak his mind to the squad after a bad defeat.

You can watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport YouTube, iPlayer, as well as listen on BBC Sounds.

Published on Friday, 19th December 2025.

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