Top 10 Best Soccer Commentators Of All Time

1 year ago

In the world of football, the voices of commentators play a crucial role in bringing the game to life for viewers. Among them, the best soccer commentators stand out with their captivating style and insightful analysis. In this collection of texts, we explore the remarkable careers of Clive Tyldesley, Alan Smith, Peter Drury, Martin Tyler, and the late Brian Moore. From their iconic moments to their contributions to enhancing the viewer's experience, join us as we delve into the world of the best soccer commentators who have left an indelible mark on the sport.

Top 10 Greatest Football Commentators of All Time

In the world of football, the role of commentators is vital in delivering the excitement and emotions of the game to the viewers. Their captivating voices and insightful analysis enhance the overall experience for fans. In this section, we'll explore the top 10 best football commentators who have made a lasting impact with their remarkable skills and ability to engage audiences. Join us as we celebrate these exceptional commentators who have become synonymous with the beautiful game.

#10 Ian Darke

Ian Darke is one of the most famous sports commentators in England. He commentates on both popular sports, football and boxing. Darke is part of the prestigious quartet at Sky Sports, alongside names like Martin Tyler, Alan Parry, and Rob Hawthorne.

Ian Darke's experience speaks for itself. He has commentated on various FIFA World Cup finals, numerous Premier League matches, and occasionally some UEFA Champions League games.

In the past, apart from working with BBC Radio and Sky Sports, Ian Darke has also been an employee of ESPN. Currently, he is a commentator for Fox Sports, providing commentary for the FIFA World Cup 2022 matches. Ian Darke also lends his voice to other matches for Sky Sports and BT Sport.

#9 Jon Champion

Football fans will surely remember the voice of Jon Champion, who moved to the United States before the start of the 2019/20 season. Jon Champion has worked with numerous media outlets throughout his illustrious career, including BBC Sport, ITV Sport, Setanta, and currently ESPN.

Jon Champion was born in Yorkshire and was brought in by ITV to commentate on matches and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Four years later, Jon continued to be trusted with the responsibility of commentating on the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. Additionally, Jon Champion has lent his voice to the 2006 and 2018 World Cups.

Interestingly, Jon Champion's voice has been featured in several editions of the extremely popular football video game, Pro Evolution Soccer.

#8 Jim Beglin

There is no doubt that Jim Beglin is one of the greatest soccer commentators. He has worked for BT Sport and NBCSN, commentating on Premier League matches, Champions League games, and two World Cup finals. He has also contributed his voice to the Pro Evolution Soccer video game.

An interesting fact is that the professional Premier League commentator was once a young football player himself. The former Irish player excelled as a left-back and had a successful career with clubs like Liverpool and Leeds United. However, he never shows bias in matches involving the Red Devils of Merseyside. Jim's insights are highly regarded by experts and fans alike.

Unfortunately, Jim Beglin's impeccable match reading abilities have hindered him from being the primary commentator. Throughout his career, he rarely serves as the main commentator in matches and mainly supports seasoned commentators like Peter Drury or Martin Tyler.

#7 Andy Gray

Having also been a football player and had a fairly successful career with clubs such as Aston Villa, Wolverhampton, and Everton, Andy Gray's media career has not been without its challenges due to some disciplinary issues. However, this football commentator is still respected by millions of fans worldwide. He is most remembered for his co-commentary alongside colleagues and his partnership with Clive Tyldesley in EA Sports' FIFA game.

Throughout his commentary career, Andy Gray always strives to provide valuable insights without showing any bias. His approach to each match helps even those who know little about football to understand the game. And that's how he makes people remember his voice.

#6 Clive Tyldesley

Another seasoned commentator on this list is Clive Tyldesley. Before taking over the reins from the legendary Brian Moore, Clive was part of ITV's commentary team for a long time. This has helped him establish himself alongside other legends in the field of football commentary.

Tyldesley is often seen commentating on matches in the UEFA Champions League. He has commented on 17 UCL finals, along with important FA Cup matches. Additionally, he has been a part of the FIFA video game series for a long time, alongside Andy Gray.

With his achievements, Clive Tyldesley has been honored with prestigious awards, including 4 Sports Commentator of the Year awards from the Royal Television Society.

#5 Alan Smith

A former Arsenal player and a Leicester City club legend, Alan Smith is also one of the few football commentators who have had professional playing experience. As a talented forward who represented the England national team, Alan Smith gained global recognition when he replaced his colleague Andy Gray as the co-commentator alongside Martin Tyler in the popular FIFA video game. Smith's commentary style tends to focus on not saying everything that happens on the field, while still accurately describing the action without unnecessary exaggeration.

Being a top-level player during his career, Alan Smith's knowledge of the game can be considered higher than his fellow commentators. However, he does not come across as conceited. Apart from his role as a commentator, he also works as an analyst for Sky Sports.

#4 Peter Drury

Peter Drury is arguably one of the best commentators in the Premier League today. His poetic and precise style of commentary, where he only praises when it is truly necessary, has led to numerous brilliant moments in his career. Drury has commentated on many thrilling Manchester derbies, in addition to contributing his voice to the Champions League and FIFA World Cup on several occasions.

It can be said that no one surpasses Peter in conveying the beautiful moments of a match. He is widely remembered for his long-standing partnership with the trio of Peter Drury, Jim Beglin, and Alan Smith. Of course, one cannot forget his historic commentary moment when Sergio Aguero scored the decisive goal for Manchester City against Queens Park Rangers in the 2011/12 season.

#3 Martin Tyler

Martin Tyler is perhaps the oldest and most respected figure on our list. He is considered the golden voice of football commentary. His commentary skills truly provide unforgettable experiences for the audience.

This British gentleman is currently a full-time commentator for Sky Sports, specializing in commenting on Premier League and UEFA Champions League matches. Additionally, he serves as an assistant coach.

In the history of English football, Martin Tyler is remembered for his long-standing professional relationship with the trio of Peter Drury, Jim Beglin, and Alan Smith. Of course, his iconic commentary moment when Sergio Aguero scored the decisive goal against Queens Park Rangers in the 2011/12 season should also be mentioned.

#2 John Motson

John Motson began his commentary career in 1971. He is the most experienced football commentator with nearly 2,000 matches commented on television and radio.

Although he retired in 2008, John Motson still contributes his voice to video highlights and BBC's Match of the Day. In 2017, he announced his comeback to commentary work, joining talkSport.

#1 Brian Moore

Brian Moore - the new legend considered the father of football commentary in England. He is perhaps the first person to bring football closer to the public.

Born in 1932 in Birmingham, Brian Moore commented on 91 World Cup finals and over 20 European Championship finals during his illustrious career. He was the voice behind the microphone when the England national team lifted the World Cup trophy in 1966 under Ramsey's leadership at Wembley.

Although he passed away at the age of 69 in 2001, Moore is still remembered as the pioneer who brought football into every home.

Conclusion

That concludes the list of the top 10 football commentators of all time. If you know any other deserving names outside this team, feel free to share them below! And now, ANZ Football bids you farewell and looks forward to meeting you in future articles.