LAST UPDATE | 19 Jun 2023
AFTER 25 YEARS of punditry, the end has come for longstanding RTÉ soccer panellist Liam Brady after tonight’s Euro Qualifier against Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium.
Brady was the last remaining pundit of the fondly remembered trio of himself, Eamon Dunphy and John Giles, with the late Bill O’Herlihy moderating the debate.
Speaking about his retirement, Brady commented, “In 1990 I retired as a player at the age of 34. In 2016 I retired from my position in the Arsenal Academy and now I’m announcing my retirement from TV punditry with RTÉ Sport.
“I have had the most amazing time working on RTE’s football coverage over the last 25 years and it is now fitting that I draw it to a close. I started with the World Cup in 1998 with my great friends Eamon, John and Bill. We had great fun together in between the arguments.”
He continued, “There are many highlights, Zidane and France in 1998, Manchester United in 1999 and Liverpool’s miracle in 2005. At half time my tip AC Milan looked comfortable but that is the beauty of sporting comebacks.
“I fondly remember the commentary box in Paris with George Hamilton when my beloved Arsenal were one-nil up against Barcelona. Henrik Larson came on and changed the game. I also remember fondly the emergence of a brilliant Barcelona led by this new coach Pep Guardiola with some young kids called Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.
“I’m going to miss the guys I played with and then worked with, Ronnie Whelan, Ray Houghton and Jim Beglin. Didi Hamann has become a great friend and the new guys Richard Sadlier, Kevin Doyle, Damien Duff and Shay Given. I will also miss all the presenters who asked the questions and the people behind the scenes. It was a pleasure to work with them and RTÉ.”
RTÉ Head of Sport, Declan McBennett, paid tribute by saying, “Liam will forever be remembered as both a truly great player and a tremendous pundit who brought enormous insight and wisdom to the role of analyst.
“In the quartet of Giles, Brady, McGrath and Keane, Liam occupies his place in Irish sporting immortality. The joy he brought notably through Arsenal and Ireland will live on forever and the recent RTÉ documentary on his broader career across the UK & Italy captured his impact and influence on the Irish & international footballing landscape.”
He added, “His later partnership with Eamon Dunphy and Johnny Giles, guided so masterfully by Bill O’Herlihy, helped define modern sporting punditry with his willingness to forthrightly address issues without fear or favour was indicative of Liam’s personality as a whole.”
Legend.
Sad to see the old heads going. Some great telly over the years between himself, Dunphy, Giles and Bill. The main thing I miss about the RTE panel is consistency, you just never know who’s going to be on it.
What an legend his knowledge of the game was master class. His time playing for his clubs and Ireland are something we might never see again from an irish player . He was the best professional ever to come out of Ireland. Best of luck for the future you will be missed big time . Im sad writing this but wish you Eamonn the very best of health and happiness. Cheers to Irelands best ever player and pundit . Loved your honesty and super knowledge.
The days of bill, Giles, dunphy and Brady are gone. Now we’re stuck with 3rd place u17 European championship player Richie Sadlier as the longest serving on the panel now. Pain.
@Eric: Spot on, we were spoiled having the Three Amigos on the panel and the brilliant Bill defusing some fiery situations.
Let’s hope Didi stays on so we have someone who knows what they’re talking about.
Sadlier and his cronies are a bunch of cods.
A good lad, who did his stuff and took each game on its merits!
Eric I disagree about Sadler he’s very good.
@Kevin Byrne: yeah he’s alright
Nothing lasts forever I suppose.. That team of Bill, John, Eamon and Liam was the best there was. I’ve lived in a good few countries and seen a lot of channels, but those guys and that era were unmatched in any country anywhere. It was like our own punditry version of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta being overseen by Guardiola in the studio! In addition, after George Best, I hold Liam Brady as the Ireland’s best ever player. Just my opinion.. Thanks Liam! Enjoy the retirement
Be great of joanne would retire aswell
Badger badger badger snake snake snake
Used to like Liam as a pundit in the past but he’s been phoning it in for a few years now. Regularly seems disinterested and is always unprepared. Sadly aside from Richie Sandler the new generation are not great.
Chippy was an integral part during the heyday of the panel, and he’ll be missed. His argument with Eamon about the hit job on Wenger will live long in the memory! I’m surprised he stayed on as long as her has after Bill, John, and Eamon finished up. It’s a shame he won’t be there for Euro 2024 coverage, but as the great mam said himself “if me granny had balls, she’d be my grandad”
About time.
Make way for some new opinions and analysis versus the same old nonsense.
My childhood hero as El Diego