Graeme Souness lands new job as former Sky Sports pundit returns to TV screens | Football | Sport
Graeme Souness will be back on television screens this summer as the Liverpool legend will reportedly be working for ITV at Euro 2024. Souness, 70, left his role as a pundit at Sky Sports last season after 15 years with the broadcast giants, citing his ongoing charity work as a reason for stepping down.
However, he’s continued to undertake media work and appeared alongside his Sky sparring partner Roy Keane for Manchester United’s dramatic FA Cup win over the Reds last month. He also worked on England’s friendly win over Scotland at Hampden Park last November, and has regularly appeared on the talkSPORT White and Jordan Show on Monday mornings.
There, his on-air verbal battles with the outspoken Simon Jordan have become renowned. The pair even now produce their own podcast where they debate current issues in football.
Souness, who also managed Liverpool as well as the likes of Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and Newcastle, has also continued to write regular columns for the Daily Mail. And his infamous no-nonsense persona has continued to be apparent, last month urging Gareth Southgate to remain with England where “he’d be better off” than if he took over at Manchester United.
His previous scathing criticism of ex-United midfielder Paul Pogba also became a trademark of his work. The volatile studio clashes with Gary Neville have also provided ample soundbites and video clips that have duly gone viral on social media.
And according to The Sun, Souness will provide analysis alongside Joleon Lescott, Jill Scott, Eli Aluko, Joe Cole, Karen Carney, Ian Wright, and ex-Sky colleagues Keane and Neville. His opening game will come when Scotland play Germany on June 14 and to many, his summer return won’t come as a surprise after he insisted that leaving Sky didn’t signify him permanently quitting TV.
He has also previously argued that there was too much scrutiny on pundits being politically correct in the modern game, and vowed to never change his direct style. “I will never retire,” he told The Telegraph. “I will be retired when the phone stops ringing.”
“I know we have to be very careful with what words we choose now, but you must be as honest as you possibly can, consistently. And just be real. That is becoming more and more difficult for the guys who are doing it now.”
In May 2023, the three-time European Cup winner launched a series of fundraising events for DEBRA, a charity who support people living with epidermolysis bullosa. The following June, he helped raise £1million by completing a six-person relay swim of the English Channel.