Sky Sports

FORMER Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has revealed he underwent surgery to save his iconic voice.Tyler, who has one of the most recognisable voices in football, faced the terrifying prospect of permanently losing his voice after the 2022 Qatar World Cup.Commentator Martin Tyler has revealed he almost permanently lost his voiceCredit: GettyThe 78-year-old revealed his vocal cords were affected by the climate in Qatar, meaning he struggled to talk.He was subsequently diagnosed with Keratosis of the larynx and underwent surgery.Tyler said: “I overused my voice and the climate in Qatar affected my cords so I realised I needed help.”My voice is my identity but the thought of not working again wasn’t the worst part of it, not being able to socialise was a real prospect.Read More in Football”Not being able to answer the phone, go for coffee with friend and only talking to those who were very close me was frightening.”I’ve had a very long career so losing my living had financial implications, but it was the loss of socialising that hit me.”When I lost my voice I had to go to a few events and it was very difficult. I either had to hide my condition or reveal to people I was close to and who I trusted.”After his operation, the legendary commentator required help from St George’s Hospital’s speech and language therapy team and was assigned Elissa Finn as his speech therapist.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe continued: “Elissa was amazing, I have had a very fortunate life but this was the roughest time for me.”It was by far the worst. Elissa saw me at my best and she saw me at my worst. I couldn’t have asked for more from Elissa and from everyone else.”Martin Tyler and Alan Smith talk about working on EA Sports FIFA football game Tyler also heaped praise on the hospital staff, adding: “I cannot be more grateful to how I was treated at St George’s. They are wonderful people at looking after patients’ best interests.”I am really grateful for their care. I was treated splendidly with care and with humour, which is very important to keep your spirits up.”Since my treatment I have done 40 commentaries. It’s a miracle. It (my voice) didn’t mean anything to me before, but it now means to me not taking my voice for granted. The loss of my voice and the potential of losing it forever was the worst-case scenario.”Tyler has enjoyed a commentary career that has spanned over 50 years.He spent 33 years at Sky Sports before being “stepped down”.He has since continued working for overseas networks this season. More

SKY SPORTS were forced to correct an error live on air during Monday Night Football after spotting a mistake on their Premier League run-in graphic.Dele Alli, 28, was a special guest on the show alongside presenter Dave Jones and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher ahead of his Everton side’s 6-0 thrashing by Chelsea.The word ‘Title’ should actually have been ‘Top 4′ on the graphicIt was quickly removed as Dele Alli and Jamie Carragher discussed the top four raceBut prior to kick-off, they were in the studio discussing the race for fourth place between Aston Villa and Tottenham.And a small detail was mistakenly put on the Premier League table, before the Sky Sports producers quickly realised and took it off.The graphic showed how the table looks after the weekend’s results – as well as the run-ins for both sides.It also showed the percentage chance of each team finishing in the final guaranteed Champions League place – with Villa boasting a 72 per cent likelihood compared to Spurs’ 27 per cent.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, the mistake appeared in the top right corner as it said “Title %” above the percentages where it should have said “Top 4 %”.Yet despite the hitch, it seems as though very few viewers saw the error before the word was quickly removed from the graphic as Dele and Carragher, 46, carried on discussing the two sides.The segment came after Dele was praised for opening up about his mental health battle in the opening part of the programme.Meanwhile in the race for fourth place, Villa took a huge step towards Champions League football with a sensational 2-0 win away at Arsenal on Sunday.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIt came after rivals Tottenham were thrashed 4-0 at Newcastle on Saturday.Fifth place could still secure a Champions League place if England’s co-efficient is better than Germany’s come the end of the season.Dele Alli hailed for opening up on mental health battles as Everton star joins Monday Night Football panelHowever, that is dependent upon the performances of the English teams in Europe – with Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham and Villa remaining.Man City drew 3-3 away at Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, while Arsenal played out a 2-2 draw at home to Bayern Munich.Both Liverpool and West Ham suffered damaging defeats in the first legs of their Europa League quarter-finals – with Jurgen Klopp’s men losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta and David Moyes’ side on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline at Bayer Leverkusen.Villa beat Lille 2-1 at home in their Europa Conference League tie, but still have work to do if they are to reach the last four. More

EMILIANO MARTINEZ appeared emotional as he lifted the lid on his love for Arsenal.The 31-year-old goalkeeper made crucial saves as Aston Villa dented the Gunners’ title hopes with a shock 2-0 win yesterday.Emiliano Martinez looked emotional when discussing his years at ArsenalCredit: Sky Sports Martinez came back to haunt his former club and dent their title hopes with huge savesCredit: ReutersAfter the game, Martinez celebrated with the club’s travelling fans and did his best Jurgen Klopp impression as he punched the air to cheers from the away end.Prior to joining Aston Villa, the Argentine spent ten years at Arsenal.And asked about his love for his former club, Martinez emotionally said: “I think it was ten to eleven years here. I still love the club and I still have friends here.”When you spend ten years of your life – I came here as a young lad and I left as a man.READ MORE ON ARSENAL”I always love this club and I always will.”Martinez arrived at Arsenal as a teenager in 2010 and went on to play 38 times, helping them win the FA Cup during his final season.He was loaned out six times during his decade at the Emirates to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Reading.Martinez is now hoping to fire Aston Villa into next season’s Champions League and lift the Conference League.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWith Unai Emery’s side now three points above Tottenham in the race for fourth, the keeper said: “We knew we needed a big away win for our Champions League hopes.”This is the first step, we have got five finals left and we need to enjoy this this one.Paul Merson’s pre-match prediction that ‘might come back to bite Arsenal’ comes true in Aston Villa clash”And we go on Thursday [against Lille] to try to qualify for the semi-finals.”Villa are 2-1 up against the French side after the first leg.Martinez’s rise to stardom
Emi Martinez began at Argentine club Independiente and was signed by Arsenal as a teenager following a successful trial.
Soon after his arrival, the keeper was sent on an emergency loan to Oxford in League Two.
He struggled to break into Arsenal’s team for years, being loaned to Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolves, Reading and LaLiga outfit Getafe.
But Martinez got his break at Arsenal after No1 Bernd Leno got injured in 2020.
Despite impressing while filling in for the German, he was sold by Mikel Arteta to Aston Villa.
He has since helped the club climb from relegation contenders to Champions League hopefuls.
All while becoming Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper and lifting the World Cup and Golden Glove at the tournament after penalty shootout heroics in the quarter-final and final. More