Liam Brady, one of the Republic of Ireland's greatest ever players and a long-standing television analyst, will be stepping down from his punditry duties with RTÉ Sport after tonight’s match with Gibraltar.
Brady 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 has been hailed as a golden age of football punditry both in Ireland and internationally.
The Dubliner worked on his first World Cup as a television pundit in 1998 alongside those colleagues all the way up to tonight's Euro 2024 qualifier, where he will be joined by Didi Hamann.
Brady’s knowledge, stemming from playing at the highest level in club football in England and in Italy, and his 16-year Ireland career, marked him out as one of the greatest associated with the sport in this country.
He 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 television punditry with RTÉ Sport.
"I have had the most amazing time working on RTÉ’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."
Brady’s analysis of Irish football resonates to this day, with his comments after last Friday's match with Greece dominating debates in the aftermath of Athens.
Recalling his best times in the RTÉ studio, he said: "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 1-0 up against Barcelona. Henrik Larsson 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 Lionel 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. Thank you for the memories."
Head of Sport at RTÉ Declan McBennett paid tribute to Brady for his contribution in the studio and as part of the RTÉ Soccer team: "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 and Italy captured his impact and influence on the Irish and 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 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 RTÉ’s coverage across 25 years".
Watch Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar in the Euro 2024 qualifier on Monday night from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live radio commentary with Game On on 2fm
