GRAEME SOUNESS: I’ll miss my Sky Sports role, it lit a fire under me… but my passion for football is undimmed and I’ll keep sharing my views in my Daily Mail column – Plus, my three favourite games of my punditry career
Football has been very good to me. I played the game for 20 years and crossed over to work for Sky for another 20 years, which has been a fantastic experience.
Sunday was my last match as part of the Sky team but I look back and think of some of the great players I played our great game with, who finished at the age of 32 or 33. That was the world of football over for them. A second career in television meant a life in the game was still very much there for me.
The business of going to live matches and working from them in a journalistic capacity has been a privilege. I didn’t always agree with those I shared a studio with but punditry is all about having your view on football and not always agreeing with everyone.
I made some great friends along the way and one of the reasons I have relished the work so much is that it has got me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis. It was consistently a challenge. That’s the way I like it.
I have covered some unforgettable matches. There have been few nights to surpass watching Lionel Messi in his pomp at the Nou Camp, putting four past Arsenal in 2010. But there have been few afternoons at Anfield to surpass Liverpool’s 7-0 win over Manchester United this season. And there were few better places to be than Manchester City’s ground when they won the league with Sergio Aguero’s goal and my colleague Martin Tyler’s incomparable commentary in May 2012.
Graeme Souness announced he is leaving his role with Sky Sports after 15 years as a pundit
Seeing Lionel Messi’s performance against Arsenal was among Souness’ standout moments
Souness relished reacting to events like Sergio Aguero’s late title winning goal for Man City
Great days. They have involved responding quickly to great and dramatic events and I’ve relished that. I have always been comfortable on live TV because it lights a fire under you.
It meant a lot that my last game for Sky was at Liverpool, the club I hold so dear. I will be 70 on Saturday and I’m still very much open for business. My passion for football is undimmed and I certainly still feel I have a lot to offer.
My column is in the Daily Mail every Saturday and I look forward to sharing my views and passion for our game there, each week.
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