Kate Abdo signs exclusive four-year TV deal after Champions League success
Kate Abdo has signed a new four-year contract to lead the coverage of the Champions League for American broadcaster CBS Sports.
The 41-year-old's slick style of presenting and her ability to converse in several different languages has seen UEFA Champions League Today become a real hit with viewers from across the world. Alongside pundits Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, the quartet has been able to provide a unique brand of insight combined with humour, such is the chemistry between the four.
On top of this, the former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel offers his on-pitch analysis, with the likes of Spanish journalist Guillem Balague also chipping in. Special guests, either on the punditry panel or as an interviewee have also included the legendary former Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero and ex-Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.
But Abdo has been key at the front of the coverage and will now stay on board for the next four years. " I’m so blessed, and so grateful," she wrote on social media. "Four more years with a network that has been so good to me, and a show and team that I love."
Supporters will not have missed the clips which have circulated throughout this season, with the show having won fans among the public at large as well as from the likes of Pep Guardiola. The newly-crowned European champion confirmed as much after his side's 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League, particularly reserving praise for Abdo.
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During an impromptu interview at the side of the pitch following the Cityzens' landmark success, he praised the work of the team on the CBS show, dubbing it the "funniest in the Champions League this season'" The former Barcelona coach also went on to admit that he has often found himself looking for clips of the show on Twitter throughout the campaign.
Now, the network has rewarded host Abdo with a renewed deal, with the former Sky Sports employee having confirmed that she will be back to present the show next season. After a prompt from former Manchester City defender Richards, she revealed that she will remain on board for the foreseeable future.
Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher appear alongside Abdo on CBS Sport (Twitter/@CBSSportsGolazo)With Abdo now having signed an exclusive deal with CBS, fans will only be able to see her on the network next year. In the show's typical tongue-in-cheek style, the presenter went on to joke: "Listen, you could cut me now and I would bleed CBS."
The US broadcaster will have coverage of the Champions League until the end of the 2029-30 season, meaning that it is likely that Abdo and the show's band of pundits will likely remain a fixture for years to come. The chemistry between the four-strong team was assembled by CBS Sports VP of Production Pete Radovich, with Arsenal legend Henry the last to join.
The Frenchman, who replaced Roberto Martinez on the panel, has been the subject of speculation linking him with a return to coaching in recent weeks, with Julian Nagelsmann reportedly keen to take him to Paris Saint-Germain as his assistant. According to the Telegraph, he is keen to install the former Monaco manager as his number two, should he get the job at the Parc des Princes.
Addressing those rumours he was quick to shutdown the speculation, stating when asked on the CBS show, that he had not had any contact with the French champions. He said: “I saw a lot of people talking for me, when I didn’t speak to anybody. Nobody."
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