SKY SPORTS could be eyeing a new lead pundit after Graeme Souness’ retirement.
The Scot spent 15 years working for the company and gave an emotional farewell after his last match – Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham.
Souness, 69, held back tears and revealed how much he had enjoyed working as a pundit following a mixed managerial career.
Sky Sports have several pundits to call upon in his place – the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp are regulars on their Premier League coverage.
While pundits such as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Michael Dawson could be given more air time in Souness’ absence.
It is also possible Sky Sports will promote a different pundit to a top role, and here SunSport looks at six potential candidates who could replace Souness.
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Frank Lampard
Lampard is interim manager at Chelsea but after losing his first five games in charge he will likely be looking for a new job in the summer.
It is possible he will make a career switch too after also failing in his previous job at Everton, where he was sacked after less than a year in charge.
The former England international, 44, has also worked as a pundit before – appearing on BT Sport’s coverage of the Champions League as well as working for the BBC at the 2018 World Cup.
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool legend Gerrard, 42, is facing a similar dilemma after being sacked as Aston Villa boss in October.
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Like Lampard he has experience working as a pundit for BT Sport and he has the reputation to replace a man of Souness’ pedigree.
He is also part of Channel 4’s team covering England’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign alongside ex-Lionness Jill Scott and Joe Cole.
However he may turn down a regular punditry role in favour of returning to management as he experienced success at Rangers – winning the club’s first league title for ten years in 2021.
Karen Carney
Carney went straight into punditry after retiring from football in 2019, working for ITV at the Qatar World Cup and for Sky Sports.
The former England star appears regularly on Sky Sports’ coverage of the WSL and recently featured on Monday Night Football.
Carney, 35, has also risen to prominence alongside Neville, Carragher and Kelly Cates on Sky Sports’ Friday Night Football show, so replacing Souness is a logical next step for her career.
Robbie Keane
The former Tottenham and Liverpool striker worked for the Republic of Ireland as assistant manager between 2018-20 after hanging up his boots.
He has since moved into punditry and provides insight in his role as a Betway ambassador.
Keane, 42, has also appeared on Sky Sports more often this season and worked alongside Souness at Liverpool vs Tottenham on Sunday.
Kieron Dyer
Dyer, 44, is another pundit who has been brought on by Sky Sports this season after stepping down from his coaching role at Ipswich in March 2022.
He has seen his role increase following Newcastle’s rise up the league – the former midfielder made 250 appearances for Toon between 1999-2007.
Sue Smith
Former England international Smith worked for BBC Sport before switching to Sky Sports, where she provides analysis of the WSL.
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She also features regularly as a pundit on Soccer Saturday alongside the likes of Paul Merson, Clinton Morrison and Kris Boyd.
Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling is stepping down at the end of the season and Sky Sports could decide to revamp the show and offer Smith a more prominent punditry role.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
