A true legend of Irish sports broadcasting Mr. John Giles is set to hang up his boots this year after over 30 years of punditry with RTE. Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady have been known as the Three Amigos of Irish television for many a year now, but the dream team will be no more after the Euros.
Head of Sport with RTE Ryle Nugent said in a statement this afternoon;
"I can confirm that John Giles will be leaving us at the end of our Euro 2016 coverage this summer. John has been an integral and much-loved part of our soccer coverage for over 30 years as well as a respected ambassador for the Irish football family as a whole.
!The Republic of Ireland's participation in this summer's tournament and RTÉ Sport's coverage is an apt occasion for John to bow out at the top and we wish him all the very best with his future endeavours. It's been a privilege to work alongsideJohn through some of the most thrilling times for Irish soccer and his contribution to our programming has been phenomenal."
While John also said in a statement to the Herald that despite leaving the national broadcaster, he had no plans to retire;
"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.
"I’ve had an amazing time working with Eamon, Liam and the late Bill O’Herlihy for many years and some fantastic memories. I’ll maintain a close relationship with Eamon and Liam and hopefully this summer will give us a new set of wonderful moments to add to the archive.
"Of course, I’ll be doing my best, along with all the lads to make the 2016 Euros as successful and exciting as all the big tournaments we’ve worked on for RTE."
