JOHN GILES will leave his role as a football pundit on RTÉ after Euro 2016, but he insists he is not retiring from broadcasting.
The former Ireland, Leeds and Manchester United midfielder has been with RTÉ since the 1980s, covering every major tournament since the 1988 European Championships.
In that time, Giles has formed an entertaining bond with fellow former professionals Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady, with the trio affectionately referred to as the ‘The Three Amigos’.
The three of them also enjoyed a fine rapport with the late Bill O’Herlihy, who passed away in May of last year.
In recent times, Giles has been omitted from the RTÉ football panel, and the 75-year-old veteran has moved to clear up his position in a statement released via The Herald.
I’ve been approached recently about my position with RTE after the Euros and I want to clear up any speculation.
In my negotiations with RTE Head of Sport Ryle Nugent last year, he made it clear to me that this was to be the final year of my full-time engagement with RTE.
He said that this was designed to allow him to continue the requirement to plan and prepare for the future.
This was perfectly understandable to me and I signed the contract which finishes after the Euro 2016 final in France in good faith.
But I want to make it perfectly clear that I’m not retiring or even thinking about it.
The Dubliner is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s best ever players and had a stint as manager of the national side, as well as captaining his country as a player.
In his club career, he enjoyed his best years with Leeds United between 1963 and 1975 having played for Manchester United for the previous six years.
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