Wayne Rooney has voiced his support for snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan to be knighted. The former England star made his appeal to King Charles after being asked to name his five greatest sports stars of all time. ‘The Rocket’ claimed the top spot on Rooney’s list.
Rooney Champions O’Sullivan’s Achievements
Rooney believes O’Sullivan deserves the honour due to his achievements in snooker. O’Sullivan has been a dominant force in snooker for decades, having claimed a joint-record seven world championships. He secured his first world title 25 years ago and has amassed 23 Triple Crown victories, more than any other player in history.
Rooney, now a BBC Sport pundit, confessed to being in awe of O’Sullivan’s skills. He firmly believes the snooker great is deserving of a knighthood.
“In my opinion, he should be Sir Ronnie O’Sullivan,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show. “He should be knighted. He should, maybe [it’s] because he’s controversial.”
Rooney’s Rationale for Knighthood
Rooney questioned why some individuals receive honours while O’Sullivan has not. “We’re seeing all these MBEs, OBEs, people getting knighted for different things. Some rightly, some wrongly, in my opinion.”
He added: “Ronnie O’Sullivan, for what he’s done for snooker and the titles he’s won, going over to different countries as well doing it, he should be knighted. Maybe he doesn’t fit.”
O’Sullivan’s Continued Success
O’Sullivan has claimed 41 ranking titles and continues to rewrite the record books. During last month’s World Open, he produced the highest break in the sport’s history with a 153. He surpassed the standard 147 maximum after capitalising on an early free ball.
- O’Sullivan has seven world championships.
- He has 23 Triple Crown victories.
- O’Sullivan has 41 ranking titles.
Rooney’s Top Sporting Greats
Rooney hailed O’Sullivan as the greatest sportsperson of all time. He deliberately chose to exclude footballers from his rankings. Rooney placed US sporting icons Tom Brady and Michael Jordan joint-fifth.
Tennis legend Serena Williams, boxing great Mike Tyson and golf icon Tiger Woods followed in second place. O’Sullivan topped the United legend’s personal list.
“My number one is, it’s controversial but, for me, I absolutely love him, it’s Ronnie O’Sullivan,” Rooney explained. “I love snooker, I’ve always loved snooker.”
Rooney added: “In snooker, you’ve had some absolute legends. Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, absolute legends in snooker – but Ronnie O’Sullivan comes along and just how he plays the game, left-hand, right-hand, taking risks.”
There was the one where he was on a 147 and he missed the black on purpose to make a point about the money the snooker player