Clive Tyldesley reveals new job after leaving ITV and being rejected by Sky Sports
Legendary commentator Clive Tyldesley called his last ever match for ITV Sport last week at Euro 2024 - but he's already been signed up for a new gig covering the Champions League
Clive Tyldesley will cover the Champions League with CBS in America after calling his final match for ITV last week.
The iconic commentator, 69, spent 28 years with ITV, the majority of which he spent as the channel's lead commentator. He was replaced by Sam Matterface in 2020, though, and then told his contract would not be renewed beyond Euro 2024 this summer.
Plenty of people have questioned ITV's decision to let Tyldesley go. But the man himself has revealed on his new podcast with Martin O'Neil, The Football Authorities, that he has landed a new job with CBS.
Tyldelesy said: "All I can do is keeping reviewing my own standards, keep making myself available. If someone like CBS - who have given me a four-year contract to cover Champions League for the USA - show that sort of confidence in me then I can only assure you I will repay that faith by working bloody hard and trying to be as good as I can be."
The veteran commentator would go on to reveal that he was overlooked for several roles before landing his new gig. He made contact with Sky Sports after the decision was made to move on from Martin Tyler, while he also put himself forward for roles at TNT Sports and Channel 4. None took him up on the offer.
He continued: "I don't have an agent, as such, I feel as if I've actually got better contacts than a lot of agents have. When Martin [Tyler] was moved aside by Sky, they knew of my position, they decided to take on Peter Drury and I totally respect how popular he is, probably more popular than I am.
"But Peter then left Premier League Productions in order to take on that role and another one in the USA. I made Premier League Productions aware of my availability for the last four or five years. They've got a dozen or so commentators contracted, they think they are all better than I am.
Join the debate! Have ITV got it wrong letting Tyldesley go? Let us know here.
"TNT, when they took over the BT Sport contract, I contacted them and said I was available, they took on Adam Summerton because they thought he was better than I was. Channel 4 when they took over the England contract - which they're now losing back to ITV - I contacted them and said I was available and they took on Steve Bower - who I think is a particularly good commentator.
"But what I'm saying is, they're aware but if you're shouting from the rooftops because you think I should be doing any of these jobs, believe me I have put myself up for them.
"It's fine, I've been a lucky boy in my career. If I never commentate on another football match, I've been a lucky boy. It's not a tragedy but in answer to the question I keep getting asked, 'Why have ITV done this?'. I don't know the answer, you'd have to ask the heads of sport."
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