Retiring BBC pundit Hansen bows out

adamhigginsuk
Jul 13, 2014
5 min read

Giving his take: Hansen's outspoken views have been part of Match of the Day for over two decades (Picture from Adam Higgins)

THE conclusion of a memorable 2014 World Cup was hinged with a touch of sadness as British football said farewell to one of its best-loved pundits.

For it was the end of an era for Match of the Day's esteemed analyst Alan Hansen, who bowed out at the top after 22 successful years on the screen.

The intriguing final between Germany and Argentina was the final time Hansen took his seat on the famous sofa before leaving the BBC to settle into retirement.

The 59-year-old may not have been inside the grand Maracana setting but, from the Rio studio, the iconic elder statesman still reeled off the thought-provoking opinions that have gripped viewers since his media career launched in 1992.

"I'll still be watching football on television but I'd like to thank everyone who has worked here and watched the programme. I've had a great time and worked with some great people," he uttered as his final swansong came to an emotional close.

"I've been in football for 41 years and I'm going out right at the top, just as I did at Liverpool."

That's exactly what he did. The punditry team - of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand - even sported dapper suits for the grand occasion.

And as the Germans prevailed in an entertaining showpiece to bring the curtain down on an unforgettable tournament, it was the fitting way to celebrate the longevity of a stalwart who has held the microphone for the same length of time as Manchester United's Ryan Giggs has been putting on his boots.

Having announced the news last September, we all knew his departure was on the horizon - and now the time for reflection has come.

A no-nonsense and polarising voice of authority, Hansen brought a refreshing approach to the role of a football pundit when deciding to reject Liverpool's managerial approach to appear on the telly just a year after ending his distinguished playing career.

He transformed the way punditry was interpreted in the public eye by sharing his own ideas and developing the process in which the action was analysed.

His first appearance on the MOTD sofa alongside Des Lynam and Jimmy Hill - one of many pundits he personally disliked - was a resounding success. And since then, he has never looked back.

With the seamless transition aided by his former centre-back partner and old friend Mark Lawrenson, Hansen's punditry skills were equivalent to the footballing capabilities of an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney on the books of Everton - a magnificent talent with huge potential to reach the very top.

The irrepressible Scot quickly established himself as the defensive expert - regarded as the resident spoil-sport in describing the faults and shortcomings in a team's error-laiden collapse when an attacking masterclass has left the audience utterly bamboozled.

It became his most accomplished trademark - to the point where many viewers would look forward to his damning assessment from the moment a shambolic defensive display from an individual or team occurred.

His in-depth and uncompromised discussion of full-backs caught "ball-watching" and centre-backs "going to sleep" has embarrassed many a Premier League defender over the years - and kept readers of the Daily Telegraph hooked in his popular weekly column.

When picking apart Brazil's frailties during their 7-1 semi-final demolition by Germany recently, which he admitted was unparallel to anything he had previously witnessed, Hansen would have certainly been in his element!

HANSEN'S PLAYING CAREER:

1973 - 1977: Partick Thistle Six goals in 86 appearances in all competitions

Won one Scottish First Division title

1977 - 1990: Liverpool

14 goals in 620 appearances in all competitions

Won eight First Division titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one European Super Cup, six Charity Shields and three European Cups

1979 - 1987: Scotland

No goals in 26 caps

Even in the days where younger models such as Gary Neville have made their mark, Hansen's confidence in his own ability has ensured he has remained at the peak of a challenging profession that comes second only to referees in receiving widespread hatred on social media.

With the modern-day studio facilities loaded with an array of technological devices operated by a multi-talented production team, you would be forgiven for thinking the pundit's job of highlighting clips to disect has long been delegated.

But such is his dedication and meticulous preparation, Hansen spent hours upon hours sifting through video footage and watching live games to choose the most appropriate snippits to depict his points which fill the three-minute analysis segments of the programme.

A timid and reserved character away from the camera, the former Partick Thistle stalwart resonates an element of assertion and fortitude when performing the job he has become accustomed to and dearly loves.

His revered television career often masks the unprecedented success he enjoyed on the field from his breakthrough at Firhill in 1973 to arriving on Merseyside where he won 24 trophies (18, if you exclude the Charity Shields) in 14 years at Anfield.

Occupying a seat on Britain's most-watched programme for over two decades is no easy feat but the irreplacable Hansen has kept the footballing world gripped with his unrivalled knowledge, tactical nouse and pure passion for the beautiful game.

He may have been one of the BBC's highest-earners in a contract worth hundreds of thousands per year, but his undisputed know-how and experience of many situations is worth every penny.

Despite the multitude of changes in managers, squads, teams and playing styles, Hansen has never been found wanting with extensive research throughout the week ensuring he knows chapter and verse even on the foreign players that descended upon the English stage.

He has earned the respect of fellow colleagues and professionals across the entire sport to the extent that his comments are an acknowledgement and barometer of success. If a player's performance was given the thumbs up from Hansen, it is considered to be a satisfying accolade. Getting his approval was difficult to achieve, even for the best of the best.

HANSEN'S FAMOUS LEXICON:

"Diabolical" "Disarray" "Mediocre" "Positional sense" "Distribution"

"Shocking" "Woeful" "A shambles" "A strong spine" "Conceivably"

"Drawing a line" "Supreme talent" "Dessimating the lesser teams"

"Cut and thrust" "Provocation" "Consistency" "The John Terry position"

"Pace and intensity" "It's in the back of the net and you're in big trouble"

"Strength and depth" "Replace quality with quality" "Sign when you're strong"

As a plethora of lesser figures came and went, the reliable Hansen has been the permanent fixture - the star of the show that never disappointed in the delivery of his eagerly-anticipated post-match verdict.

From the infamous "you can't win anything with kids" line in 1995 to answering his mobile phone live on air in 2006, Hansen has provided many cherishable moments for which he will always be associated with.

An avid golfer and devoted family man, he will now undoubtedly spend more time on the course with his clubs and at home with wife Janet and their two children knowing the frequent commutes from Southport to Salford are now a thing of the past.

In the meantime, Match of the Day will continue to be the weekly institution that has 15 million members of the public glued to their sofas on a Saturday night.

But in the absence of Hansen, it will never quite be the same. He has set the punditry standards and raised the bar to such a height, it is never likely to be eclipsed.

Commanding presence: Hansen, who captained Liverpool on the day of the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989, was regarded as a defensive rock that loved to venture forward during his playing days (Picture from Getty Images)