Alan Green (broadcaster)

Last updated

Alan Green
Born (1952-06-25) 25 June 1952 (age 72)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
OccupationSports commentator
Known forBBC radio football commentary

Alan Green (born 25 June 1952) is a Northern Irish former sports commentator, mainly on football but also on golf, rowing and the Olympic Games. [1]

Contents

Green was one of BBC Radio 5 Live's most senior football commentators and was a winner of a Sony Radio Academy Award for Sports Broadcaster of the Year. [2] He is noted for his forthright style of football commentary and has been involved in several controversies and disputes with managers including Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce.

He also worked briefly in the MLS as Atlanta United play by play lead announcer for Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast.

Career

Alan Green was born in Belfast, and attended Methodist College Belfast. [3] After gaining an honours degree in modern history from Queen's University Belfast, he worked in local newspapers until he moved to the BBC in 1975 as a news trainee [4] with the ambition of becoming a TV news producer. [5] Green presented current affairs on both radio and television in Northern Ireland, [4] before he moved to Manchester, joining BBC Radio's sport department. [5]

Green's first World Cup as a BBC commentator was in 1982, and in 1986 he made his debut covering the FA Cup Final as the junior commentary partner to Peter Jones. He returned to the Cup final in 1988, and following Jones' untimely death, he covered every FA Cup final from 1990 to 2016, missing only 2010 due to ill health. In 1989, Green was present at the Hillsborough disaster with Jones. [6] In a 2009 radio programme marking the 20th anniversary of the disaster, he spoke of his bitterness that justice had been denied for the 96 people who died at Hillsborough. [7]

Green's forthright commentary style has often divided opinion among radio listeners. He has won the admiration of some listeners for his honest assessments of football games and for his uncompromising opinions. [8]

Green has disputed the notion that the English Premier League is the greatest in the world. [9] In 2013, he wrote an article in which he said: "The Premier League I see week in, week out, isn't remotely as good as it thinks it is." In the article for the Belfast Telegraph , Green criticised what he called "woeful defending", "selfish, oafish behaviour" and "the underwhelming, overpaid footballers that populate the Premier League." [9]

In an interview with The Observer in 2009, Green said of his career as a sports commentator: "Apart from one time in 1984, I've never applied for a television job." Green said that he told a BSkyB executive, who had floated the idea of him moving from radio to the satellite channel, that he is too outspoken to work for Sky TV. [10] The Sky executive implored Green to "always accentuate the positive". Green told him that his role as a commentator was "to tell the truth, not to act as a propagandist." [9]

Green debuted as a commentator on BBC 1's Match of the Day on 13 September 2014, covering highlights of the Premier League game between West Brom and Everton. He later covered Steven Gerrard's last match for Liverpool at Anfield.[ citation needed ]

In July 2015, Green featured as the narrator on the Channel 4 programme Lookalikes. [11]

He was the lead play-by-play announcer for Atlanta United (MLS) for Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast for the inaugural 2017 season. [12]

His BBC 5Live contract was not renewed following the 2019/20 football season. [13]

Disputes with football managers

Green had a long-standing dispute with Alex Ferguson [14] following an incident in which Green said on air that he was "learning not to believe the propaganda that comes out of the Manchester United manager's office". [15] Green felt that he had been deliberately misled by Ferguson giving him inaccurate team news the day before a match. [10] In 2009, Green said of Ferguson: "He either bullies or frightens. It's the way he exerts his control over the media. He would be a fantastic propaganda minister. He knows how to manipulate and some of my colleagues take it in." [10]

In 2006, Green was banned from Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium after accusing manager Sam Allardyce of playing "ugly" football. Following Allardyce's departure to Newcastle United, the club invited Green back. [16] In an article for The Belfast Telegraph in 2010, Green wrote: "Am I alone in thinking Sam Allardyce must be the most arrogant football manager that's ever lived?" [17] In January 2013, Green criticised Allardyce's style of play at West Ham United, which he described as "hitting the ball long and high to a big man up front." [18]

Other controversies

In 2004, Green was censured by Ofcom after he made a comment live on-air about Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba speaking pidgin English with the referee. Green said that Djemba-Djemba was saying "me no cheat" to the referee. A listener complained that it was inappropriate to suggest a black man was unable to speak grammatical English. [19] [20] Green had previously described Manchester City's Chinese defender Sun Jihai as wearing shirt "Number 17 – that'll be the Chicken Chow Mein, then" during a live radio broadcast. [21]

In 2005, Green had a dispute with Everton fans after he wrote an article in which he suggested that manager David Moyes, "instead of raising expectations after Everton's fourth-place finish the previous season, should suppress them." Green's article led to him receiving some death threats. [15]

In 2007, he commentated on a match between Everton and Reading at Goodison Park. Film star Sylvester Stallone was paraded on the pitch and Green joked about whether Stallone's limousine would still have wheels when he returned to it. This prompted an official complaint to the BBC by Liverpool City Council, upset at his stereotypical views about car crime in the city. [22]

Green is reported to have fallen out with a number of his broadcasting colleagues over the years. In 2009, he was reported to have had a rift with former fellow BBC broadcaster Mark Saggers, that surfaced in on-air exchanges. Saggers left the BBC to join rival Talksport at the end of the 2008–09 English football season. [23]

In June 2016, Green stated that he would boycott the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia due to the "horrendous atmosphere" he had experienced on previous trips to Russia. [24]

Personal life

Green lives in Somerford with his wife Brenda, whom he married on 29 March 1980. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Ferguson</span> Scottish football manager (born 1941)

Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson is a Scottish former football manager and player, best known for managing Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time and has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of football. Ferguson is often credited for valuing youth during his time with Manchester United, particularly in the 1990s with the "Class of '92", who contributed to making the club one of the richest and most successful in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Bosnich</span> Australian soccer player and sports pundit

Mark John Bosnich is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper, and sports pundit. He played in England for Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea. He also played in Australia for Sydney United, Central Coast Mariners and Sydney Olympic, as well as representing Australia 17 times during his career, scoring one goal for his nation. He was a co-host of Bill & Boz on Fox Sports News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Moyes</span> Scottish football manager and former player (born 1963)

David William Moyes is a Scottish professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Premier League club West Ham United. He was previously the manager of Preston North End, Everton, Manchester United, Real Sociedad, and Sunderland. Moyes was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year. He is also on the committee for the League Managers Association in an executive capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafael Benítez</span> Spanish association football player and manager

Rafael Benítez Maudes is a Spanish professional football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of La Liga club Celta Vigo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Lee (footballer)</span> English footballer (born 1959)

Samuel Lee is an English professional football coach and former player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan Ferguson</span> Scottish former professional footballer

Duncan Cowan Ferguson is a Scottish football coach and former player who is the manager of Scottish League One club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Djemba-Djemba</span> Cameroonian footballer

Eric Daniel Djemba-Djemba is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He previously played club football in France, England, Qatar, Denmark, Israel, Serbia, Scotland, India and Indonesia. In international competition, he represented Cameroon, having appeared for his country 34 times, including at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Allardyce</span> English footballer and manager (born 1954)

Samuel Allardyce is an English football manager and former professional player. Allardyce made 578 league and cup appearances in a 21-year career spent mostly in the Football League, as well as brief spells in the North American Soccer League and League of Ireland. He was signed by Bolton Wanderers from Dudley Town in 1969 and spent nine years at Bolton, helping the club to win the Second Division title in 1977–78. He spent the 1980s as a journeyman player, spending time with Sunderland, Millwall, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, and West Bromwich Albion. During this time, he helped Preston win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1986–87.

Clive Tyldesley is an English television sports broadcaster. He was ITV's senior football commentator from 1998 until 2020. In that role, he led the ITV commentary team at five World Cups and five European Championships and was lead commentator on seventeen UEFA Champions League finals and nine FA Cup finals for ITV.

Stephen Robert Bower is an English football commentator. He is best known as one of the main voices for BBC TV's Match of the Day, culminating in being part of the commentary teams for the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups. Bower commentated on New Zealand's historic draw with Italy and Argentina's 4–1 win over South Korea amongst others. He can also be heard on TNT Sports covering the Europa League, Serie A, and the Bundesliga, NBCSN covering the Premier League in the US, and ESPN covering international matches. He is the lead presenter on world feed Premier League Productions and presents Premier League football for Amazon Prime Video UK. Previous work includes Setanta Sports, ESPN UK, and MUTV.

Steve Round is an English professional football coach and former player. He was until 6 July 2023, assistant first team coach of Premier League club Arsenal.

Archibald Knox is a Scottish football player and coach. He was most recently the assistant manager of Aberdeen until leaving the club in March 2013.

The 1997–98 season was Manchester United's sixth season in the Premier League, and their 23rd consecutive season in the top division of English football. The campaign ended in disastrous fashion, having been pipped to the Premier League title by Arsenal, who managed a ten-match winning streak in the last two months of the season, as well as being eliminated by league strugglers Barnsley and French outfit AS Monaco in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, respectively. To make matters worse, United entered March still in contention for a League and European double after opening up a 12-point gap, regardless of the fact that nearest challengers Arsenal had three games in hand. Thus, the season ended with only the Charity Shield in the cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 FA Community Shield</span> 82nd staging of the FA Community Shield 2004

The 2004 Football Association Community Shield was the 82nd staging of the FA Community Shield, an annual football match contested by the reigning champions of the Premier League and the holders of the FA Cup. It was contested on 8 August 2004 by Arsenal, champions of the 2003–04 Premier League, and Manchester United, who beat Millwall in the final of the 2003–04 FA Cup. Watched by a crowd of 63,317 at the Millennium Stadium, Arsenal won the match 3–1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 FA Community Shield</span> Football match

The 2003 FA Community Shield was the 81st staging of the FA Community Shield, an annual football match contested by the reigning champions of the Premier League and the holders of the FA Cup. It was held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 10 August 2003. The match pitted Manchester United, champions of the 2002–03 Premier League against Shield holders Arsenal, who beat Southampton 1–0 in the 2003 FA Cup final. Manchester United won the Shield 4–3 on penalties, as neither side could be separated after a 1–1 draw in 90 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Cleverley</span> English association football player

Thomas William Cleverley is an English football coach and former professional player who played as a midfielder. He is currently head coach of EFL Championship club Watford.

The Premier League 10 Seasons Awards were a set of English football awards which marked the first 10 years of competition in the Premier League, the top-level domestic league competition of professional football in England. The awards celebrated the first decade of the Premier League, which was formed in 1992 when the 20 clubs of the old First Division resigned en-masse from The Football League. Awards were presented in a number of categories for both teams and individuals, covering the period from the inaugural 1992–93 season which kicked off in August 1992, through to the 2001–02 season, which ended in May 2002. The awards were decided by the public through voting on the Premier League website and by a 10-man panel of footballing experts, drawn from representatives of the Premier League, League Managers Association, Professional Footballers' Association, as well as the football television and radio commentators and presenters and football journalists. Voting ran from December 2002 to February 2003, with the awards being announced throughout the month of April 2003. Nearly 750,000 votes were registered from 184 countries, in what the Premier League described as the "most widely subscribed fan awards ever held".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravel Morrison</span> Footballer (born 1993)

Ravel Ryan Morrison is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Jamaica national team.

The 2020–21 season was the 143rd year in existence of West Bromwich Albion and their first season back in the Premier League after a two-year absence, following promotion from the Championship in the previous season. They also participated in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

References

  1. BBC - Radio Five Live Presenters - Alan Green
  2. "Press Office - The Premiership on Five Live". BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  3. "Alan Green". news.bbc.co.uk.
  4. 1 2 "BBC Sport: Alan Green". BBC News. 13 July 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  5. 1 2 Anthony, Andrew (15 November 2009). "Alan Green: My dad used to tell me 'Shut up and watch the game'". The Guardian. London.
  6. "The blackest day in football's history". BBC News. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  7. "BBC - Today". BBC News. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  8. "Press Office - Le Saux joins Five Live for new Premiership season". BBC. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 "2013 is time to rid ugly side of beautiful game". Belfast Telegraph. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 Anthony, Andrew (15 November 2009). "Alan Green: My dad used to tell me 'Shut up and watch the game'". The Observer. London. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  11. Wollaston, Sam (21 July 2015). "Lookalikes review". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  12. "FOX Sports South and FOX Sports Southeast Announce Atlanta United Broadcast Team". Fox Sport South. 27 March 2017.
  13. "Alan Green's anger as BBC shows him the door after 45 years". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  14. Mitchell, Kevin (21 April 2009). "From Sir Alex Ferguson to a sheep dog, Alan Green has upset them all". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2017.Their feud is such a central part of our football folklore that any game involving Green's commentary and Manchester United makes for compelling listening.
  15. 1 2 "Alan Green: Football's monster mouth ready to rile for another season" . The Independent. 8 September 2006. Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  16. The Bolton News, daily, Wanderers, Phil Gartside, Kelly, Reebok Stadium, tv, video, Bolton MP Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  17. "Alan Green: Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has one heck of an ego". Belfast Telegraph. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  18. "Joe Cole may live to regret West Ham switch". Belfast Telegraph. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  19. "Ofcom raps football commentator". BBC News. 4 October 2004. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  20. "In brief". The Guardian. London. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  21. sp!ked review of books |
  22. Radio Today with United Radio..: Five Live upsets Liverpool Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  23. Mark Saggers lifted by new role with BBC's rivals
  24. Fletcher, Harry (14 June 2016). "BBC Radio commentator Alan Green will boycott Russia World Cup in 2018". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  25. Alan Green (presenter) (29 March 2008). 606 (Radio broadcast). Campbell Davison Media for BBC Radio 5 Live . Retrieved 29 March 2008.