It seems like yesterday when Daniel Sturridge was a talented starlet on the rise, despite the fact that he hasn’t played Football professionally for nearly a year now.
Nevertheless, the 33-year-old has been using his time away from the game wisely, as he has effectively pivoted into punditry.
With spells at top clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool, alongside a formidable trophy cabinet that includes 2 Champions League medals and a Premier League crown, you can bet Sturddige has plenty of wisdom to offer.
He initially started dabbling in punditry through a series of TikToks, in which the forward broke down upcoming matches and offered his predictions, all while being his unapologetic self.
The former England International even broke into song or did little ditties while getting his point across. And overall, the TikToks just radiate good vibes.
Sturridge has now started to bring his infectious energy to national television, beginning with a recent appearance on Sky Sports.
The forward was a part of the punditry panel for Chelsea’s game against Liverpool, alongside Jamie Carragher and Karen Carney.
Those expecting Sturridge to ‘tidy up’ for a formal occasion were in for a surprise, as he stayed true to himself and sported a smart leather jacket with gloves and Prada inners for an all-black look.
He also did a good job as a panelist, leaving many impressed. But, of course, some still had some gripes against the 33-year-old.
A majority of fans online seemed to enjoy the former Liverpool and Chelsea man’s appearance, with one of the reasons being the special insights he offered.
Having played at the top level himself, Sturridge was able to articulate the thoughts of a player while taking a goal-scoring opportunity.
He also spoke on how Chelsea’s lack of clinicality can be countered by bringing a player who has ‘a go-to finish’, his suggestion being currently loaned-out Romelu Lukaku.
Fans also appreciated his style of oration and even his fashion choices, which just goes on to show the importance of immaculate drip.
There were calls for him to be made a permanent fixture at Sky Sports, a pretty nifty idea in our opinion.
Unfortunately, not everyone was head over heels after spotting Sturridge on Sky Sports. And naturally, they voiced their criticisms.
Among the reasons for the dislike was Sturridge’s personality, as some fans seemed to disagree with his attire choices and even his nose ring.
They also branded him to be ‘woke’ and ‘unwatchable’, but it’s safe to say that this comment has its motivations elsewhere.
Other, more legitimate criticisms, included a dislike for his style of punditry, which is certainly fair considering the off-beat topics he often speaks upon.
His endeavor with TikTok also appeared to have left a bad taste in people’s mouths, and they clearly struggled to take him seriously.
After leveling the positives and negatives together, we’d say that Sturridge left a solid impression overall. The 33-year-old clearly has what it takes to be a pundit.
