John Giles holds no animosity over RTÉ exit
Speaking on Newstalk’s Off The Ball show, Giles confirmed he was told by RTÉ’s Group Head of Sport Ryle Nugent last year that his current RTÉ contract would be his last, and the former Ireland player and manager stressed he made no attempt to plead his case.
“I met with Ryle Nugent last year. It was clear to me that this was my final contract, which is fair enough. I have no bad feelings about that. RTÉ are entitled to do what they want to do and what they think is best for the future.”
“I wouldn’t argue my case. Don’t go where you’re not wanted. I knew that was the situation.
“Just accept it. I’ve no animosity to Ryle Nugent or RTÉ at all. They’ve got to get on with what they want to do.”
Giles released a statement yesterday morning confirming his time at RTÉ was up because, he told Off The Ball, “there had been one or two journalists sniffing around a story. I wanted to control it and tell it exactly as it was.”
RTÉ then released a statement from Nugent, paying tribute to Giles’s work at the station.
“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 alongside John through some of the most thrilling times for Irish soccer and his contribution to our programming has been phenomenal.”
Giles, now 75, stressed that he has no plans to retire from punditry.
“I enjoy it. It keeps my mind active. I wouldn’t like to have that time on my hands. I love football. I enjoy watching it. And I enjoy commenting on it. And hopefully I’ll continue.
“I don’t believe in retirement. My mind would go slack. It’s probably slack enough but it would go slacker.
“Thank God my health is ok. I enjoy having to concentrate on what makes the game for whoever wants me to do it.”
Of his fellow long-term RTÉ panelists Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady, Giles said: “They’re not finished after the Euros. But I don’t think it’s right for me to talk about their situation. We get on very well and good luck to them whatever they do.”
Giles also paid tribute to Johan Cruyff, who he played against in the 1975 European Cup semi-final, when Giles’ Leeds United beat Cruyff’s Barcelona to reach the final.
“Luckily enough for us, in that match at Elland Road, he restricted himself to playing on the left wing which was great for us because I always thought he was most dangerous when he could go wherever he wanted to and get on the ball in any position he wanted to on the pitch.”
“He was a great player. He was beautifully balanced on both sides, left foot, right foot, very quick, great footballing brain. He could get in a good position and knew exactly where he was and what was the most dangerous thing to do.”
Giles also admired Cruyff’s work as a manager, notably at Barcelona, where he won four La Liga titles and the European Cup.
“Some of the great players only got two out of 10 as a coach, he got 10 out of 10. As a coach and player (combined), I’d say he is the outstanding (one).
“He obviously had a good knowledge and a good philosophy about the game. People say football is a simple game, but actually it’s quite a complex game. Great managers have the knowledge that equates to simplicity. That knowledge makes it sound simple and look simple. The rubbish managers complicate it so much that players don’t get it and then the manager blames the players.”
