Latest news with #JohnGiles
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Football icon John Giles celebrates his retirement from punditry
John Giles has celebrated his retirement from punditry at the age of 84. The football icon's voice and insight have been a fixture in Irish broadcasting for nearly three decades with Bauer Media Audio Ireland, and for the past 23 years with Off The Ball. His Thursday night analysis became a hallmark of the programme. John Giles as Off The Ball honoured him with a special night of celebration at Dublin's Sugar Club. Pic: Brian McEvoy Since joining Off The Ball in 2002, he has held the distinction of being the longest-running current pundit in Irish media. Giles is renowned for his sharp football intellect, uncompromising honesty and deep passion for the game. Off The Ball honoured the Republic of Ireland legend with an evening of celebration. Former footballer Eddie Gray, Off The Ball's Nathan Murphy, John Giles, Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan and Off The Ball managing director Ger Gilroy and former footballer Joe Jordan. Pic: Brian McEvoy John Giles was joined by his wife Anne and children Joanna, Catherine, Chris and Paul. Friends and football greats Brian Kerr, Eddie Gray and Joe Jordan were also among those who stopped by Dublin's Sugar Club for a night of nostalgia and tributes. John Giles' children Chris, Joanna, Paul and Catherine at the Off The Ball celebration. Pic: Brian McEvoy John Giles is one of the most influential men in the history of Irish football. A career spanning almost 70 years started with a move to Manchester United at just 15 years old in 1956. He went on to win two league titles with Leeds United. Eddie Gray and John Giles share a laugh on stage at the celebration. Pic: Brian McEvoy Giles represented his country 59 times as well as becoming player-manager for the national team. He later became one of the most familiar faces on Irish television when he joined the RTÉ Sport panel as a senior pundit. Speaking about John Giles, Ger Gilroy, managing director, Off The Ball, said: 'John Giles, senior analyst, is a titan of Irish sport.' Brian Kerr and John Giles. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'His weekly explanation of football truth on Off The Ball helped deepen what the country knows about football.' 'His ability to see through bullshit and his love of the game shone through in every contribution.' Joe Jordan, Eddie Gray, John Giles, Nathan Murphy and Eoin Sheahan. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'Off The Ball has been blessed to call John a mentor, colleague and friend for over 20 years, he set the bar for what's expected every Thursday night and we can only hope to live up to his legacy.' 'We have truly been standing on the shoulders of a giant.'
Irish Independent
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Daniel McDonnell: Loss of Damien Duff's star power is a blow to the League of Ireland but there can still be life without him
Former Shelbourne boss divided opinion but he lit up the LOI There was something strangely appropriate about John Giles retiring from punditry in the same week that Damien Duff dramatically vacated the Shelbourne stage. Two of Irish football's greatest-ever players are from completely different generations but they will always share one journey in common. Duff's appointment as Shelbourne manager in November 2021 was frequently compared to Giles' decision to come back from West Brom to Shamrock Rovers in 1977 because of comparable excitement that accompanied a genuine household name volunteering themselves for a frontline role in the League of Ireland.
Irish Independent
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Daniel McDonnell: Damien Duff's blazing star power lit up the League of Ireland
There was something strangely appropriate about John Giles retiring from punditry in the same week that Damien Duff dramatically vacated the Shelbourne stage. Two of Irish football's greatest-ever players are from completely different generations but they will always share one journey in common.
Irish Independent
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Declan Lynch: John Giles put brains before banter to give us football punditry that was truly great
The retirement of John Giles from his regular Thursday night football talks on Newstalk's Off the Ball means one of the great Irish broadcasting careers has ended. Before that, there was a great football career.
Irish Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
John Giles' family life with wife and children as he retires from punditry
John Giles has called time on his career as a pundit. The Ireland football legend has graced Irish screens and airways for many decades, being respected as one of the best analysts in the land. The ex-Leeds United ace was a mainstay of RTE's football analysis from the 1980s until he stepped away from TV work in 2016. He has been a key component of Newstalk's football coverage for more than twenty years, and on Off The Ball on Thursday night, he reflected on his career analysing the game's top players. He said: "I was really lucky. I fell into the television. Eamon [Dunphy] helped me a lot in that. "When you're doing the job I was trying to do, you have to watch all the matches. You can't make it up as you go along. "I think it got to the stage where I was getting a bit stale trying to watch as many matches as I could and it became hard work. "Football has never been hard work to me, I have always loved it but there are so matches. "Even in the summer now, you see the teams over in America [for the Club World Cup]. "I have had a good run of it. I am 84, nearly 85. "I have enjoyed it. I loved playing. I fell into to the television, I had no intention of doing that when I was actually playing the football. "No complaints whatsoever." Here's everything you need to know about the football great: John Giles was born in Dublin on November 1940 and is 84 years old. He kicked off his career with Manchester United, making over 100 appearances for the Red Devils before moving to Leeds United. During his time in Manchester, he bagged an FA Cup and then had a remarkable run with Leeds under Don Revie, where he clinched two First Division titles, an FA Cup, and a League Cup. He also made it into the PFA Team of the Year. His English playing days concluded with West Brom, followed by a brief stint with Philadelphia Fury, and finally ended his playing days with Shamrock Rovers, securing an FAI Cup. Giles tied the knot with his wife Anne way back in 1966. She is the sister of former Irish sprinter Paul Dolan. The couple have four sons and two daughters together. Two of Giles' sons previously played for Shamrock Rovers. His sister Kay was married to England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles. Giles first graced the RTE airwaves in 1986, marking the start of a highly respected broadcasting career. He remained a fixture for the national broadcaster for three decades, signing off after Euro 2016. He still worked for Off The Ball until announcing his retirement on June 26, 2025.
