Liam Brady announces retirement from RTÉ panel after 25 years

Ahead of tonight’s Euro Qualifier against Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland legend and longstanding RTÉ soccer panellist Liam Brady has announced that he will be stepping down from his punditry duties after tonight’s game.

Liam has been an integral part of the RTÉ panel for 25 years and his partnership with Eamon Dunphy and John Giles under the stewardship of the late Bill O’Herlihy will be remembered as a golden age of football punditry both in Ireland and internationally. 

From his first World Cup as a television pundit in 1998 alongside Bill, John and Eamon all the way up to tonight’s Euro qualifier with his friend Didi Hamann, Liam has graced our screens with his erudite analysis, giving viewers a window into the beautiful game for 25 years.

Speaking about his retirement, Liam said:  “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. 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.

I want to wish all in RTÉ Sport the very best for the future. Thanks for the memories.”

Speaking following Liam’s announcement the Head of Sport at RTÉ Declan McBennett paid tribute to Liam 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.”

“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.”

McBennett added that “dealing with Liam was always a pleasure and those who worked alongside him in RTÉ Sport will always be thankful for his wisdom and professionalism in enhancing RTE’s coverage across 25 years”.