CLIVE TYLDESLEY has revealed he was a Manchester United supporter as a boy… but admits he “shouldn’t have” followed the Red Devils.
The iconic broadcaster, 70, commentated the famous 1999 Champions League final as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men completed the Treble with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in Barcelona.
As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stabbed home the winner, Tyldesley exclaimed: “And Solskjaer has won it!”
Now he has opened up about being a Man Utd fan growing up – when the club were struggling outside the top flight.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, he said: “My dad was a United fan. I think the first game I went to was in 1960.
“When I was 14 or 15, I started to go on the Stretford End, then I started to go home and away when Manchester United had a very average team, slipping into the Second Division.
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“I think I missed only six, seven games that season. If you’d told me then that I would ever have an affection for any other club, we would have got into a very heated argument.”
After beginning his career in broadcasting, the allegiance he once had for Man Utd started to evaporate.
And he insists there is now no favouritism when it comes to working on games involving Man Utd.
He added: “Who do I support now? I support my friends; the people who have helped me in this business.
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“I want them to succeed. I have no problem commentating on Manchester United.”
Tyldesley also spoke about how “I shouldn’t have” supported Man Utd due to his childhood next-door neighbour being the Bury manager.
Yet his dad’s love for the Red Devils ended up getting the better of him.
Tyldesley also opened up about commentating on “friend” Roy Hodgson’s final game as England manager eight years ago when the Three Lions crashed out of Euro 2016 to Iceland.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
