FOR every fan, the football commentator’s voice soundtracking that eureka goal moment is almost as important as a classic song that transports you back to a special time in your life.
In modern football commentary, there is no greater example than the legendary mic man Martin Tyler, who possesses a treasure chest of poetic words overlaying so many unforgettable pieces of footage.
Martin’s iconic “Agueroooooo!” line from May 2012 — after the pocket-rocket Argentinian took the roof off the Etihad with his injury-time winner to clinch the Prem title for Manchester City — remains a piece of stand-alone genius.
But as well gloriously exaggerating the o’s in the striker’s surname to perfectly illustrate the historic moment, it was also his follow-up.
“I swear you’ll never see anything like this ever again! So watch it — drink it in.”
We did and we still enjoy watching and listening to it nearly 14 years later.
Typically humble, Martin said: “I feel very fortunate to have been on duty for Sergio’s goal in 2012.
“I have a slightly different take on it because even now I look back and think to myself, ‘At least I didn’t mess it up!’
“I believe the commentary is just a sidebar of so many other more important things happening in that moment — for the fans, the club, the player scoring the goal and for the Premier League.”
After 30 years with Sky Sports, Martin left after the 2022-23 season and has nothing but affection for the broadcaster.
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He added: “I completely understand things move on. I feel blessed to have worked with some wonderful people, enjoyed great moments with outstanding co-commentators like Andy Gray, Alan Smith, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.”
Now 80 years old, Martin still regularly works in commentary for the Premier League and is off to the World Cup to work for Host Broadcasting TV.
A football obsessive, he talks with as much enthusiasm about his most recent gig — Bodo/Glimt’s 3-0 Champions League win over Sporting on Wednesday — as he does about his first commentary game 51 YEARS ago on December 28, 1974.
He said: “That date will forever be etched in my memory — my first game between Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.
“I was working in TV at the time as an editorial assistant but I didn’t want to be based in an office.
“I was lucky enough to play in non-league football. Being tall, I was in my happy place being a goalscoring No 9.
“So my passion was always playing football and being out and watching the game, so commentary was probably the next best thing for me.
“I got a call and was told the then-Southern football commentator Gerry Williams was unavailable to do the Saints game. I was asked if I would be able to step in.
“This was the start of the Southampton team who 18 months or so later won the FA Cup against Manchester United — players like Mike Channon and Peter Osgood.
“The punchline to the story is that Wednesday won 1-0 and bearing in mind it was December 28, Wednesday did not win another league match for the rest of the season.
“I thought I did OK. The producer said, ‘Well done, I will be in touch with another game in a few weeks’.
“And that has been my mantra since 1974… there has always been another game and I hope that will always be the case for as long as I live!
“I will never forget receiving a telegram from BBC’s John Motson before my first commentary game at The Dell. It read, ‘Talk a little but say a lot’.
“Motty’s message has stayed with me for over half a century. He was a good friend.
“In the space of four years I went from playing in non-league into the world of TV and then football commentary, so I feel blessed it happened so quickly for me.”
Martin still channels his unstinting energy for football out on the pitch, coaching at his local club Woking, where he was assistant first-team boss between 2018-22.
And typical Tyler, he was off to coach the Under-19s shortly after our chat.
He added: “Whether you are playing, coaching or talking about it, football is a wonderful game and I feel very lucky to have had this adventure and journey for the last 60 years.”
