ITV axing leaves popular Euro 2024 commentator baffled

ITV have decided to move on from popular commentator Clive Tyldesley (Picture: Getty)

Clive Tyldesley says he is ‘more than disappointed’ at ITV’s decision to end their 28-year association with the popular commentator.

The 69-year-old called his final game for ITV on Saturday as Euro 2024 hosts Germany beat Denmark to reach the quarter-finals.

Tyldesley commentated on a number of iconic football moments, including Manchester United’s Champions League final win in 1999 and Liverpool’s remarkable comeback in the final of the same competition in 2005.

He was replaced as ITV’s lead commentator in 2020 but has continued to work for the network over the last four years.

Tyldesley will continue to commentate next season on CBS’ coverage of the Champions League and Amazon’s coverage of the Premier League.

‘I am more than disappointed that they have come to the conclusion that they’ve now got not just one, but other commentators that they think are better than I am,’ Tyldesley said on his podcast, The Football Authorities.

‘I assume that ITV do research these things and maybe they are getting feedback from focus groups that, you know, coming up 70, heard enough of me.

Tyldesley spent 28 years working with ITV (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m nine years younger than Martin Tyler, and he was still going strong up until 18 months ago as Sky’s leading commentator.

‘I hope that my standards are high enough for me to be the first person to notice when they’re slipping. I still listen back to my work and review it, hopefully as harshly as anybody else.

‘I try to refresh, reset, recalibrate every game that I do. I’m continually trying to reconnect with an audience that is constantly changing – changing in terms of its makeup, changing in the way that it consumes it management, trying to connect with all ages, all genders, all levels of football interest and knowledge.

‘I find it difficult when I can still see the players, and still shout the names out – I’ve still got a voice and I’ve still got eyes – to accept that my standards have fallen to the degree that I’m being relegated in the way that I am.’

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Tyldesley added: ‘It’s a shame it’s coming to an end but it’s a matter of opinion and their opinion is that this is the right call.

‘I don’t know why they think that. I’ve never fully understood but I have to accept it. I still think my work is strong enough to resonate with old and young.

‘It’s a strange situation because I am not retiring and have no intention of doing so. This is not my decision, it’s theirs. If they want to highlight the fact that I have been with them a long time that’s also their decision.

‘I am not going to object to it but at same time it’s a little unusual when it’s their decision to move me on.’

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