Wayne Rooney's unusual phobia! Gary Lineker makes surprise revelation about ex-Man Utd and England star during FA Cup quarter-final between Brighton and Nottingham Forest

The footballing icon was part of the BBC’s punditry team for the quarter-final tie at the Amex Stadium and host Lineker took the moment to disclose a peculiar fear Rooney had kept under wraps.

The Match of the Day host casually dropped the bombshell that Rooney is afraid of fish.

"We still got a little time to talk," Lineker said with a grin. "What we did learn during that first half was that Wayne Rooney's scared of fish."

Looking somewhat embarrassed but still laughing along, Rooney admitted his discomfort around certain types of fish. "I just don’t like them," he confessed before attempting to refine the statement. "It’s the big fish that I’m scared of."

Lineker, never one to miss an opportunity for humor, pointed out the irony of the situation given the match's coastal location. "We’re only three or four miles from the coast here," he quipped, drawing even more chuckles from the studio.

What makes Rooney’s phobia even more intriguing is the fact that his luxurious family mansion includes two private fishing lakes. Given his apparent unease around fish, it raises the question of how often – if ever – the former England captain actually uses them. While plenty of footballers are known to enjoy fishing as a relaxing pastime, it seems that Rooney won’t be among those casting a line anytime soon.

Rooney has recently been spending more time in the media spotlight after parting ways with Plymouth Argyle. His managerial stint ended after a difficult run saw the club slide to the bottom of the Championship table, leaving him once again in search of his next role in football management. For now, Rooney is making a temporary return to punditry, offering insights into the game while awaiting his next move in the dugout.