18 June 2023 , 08:45
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Sky Sports icon Martin Tyler has confirmed he supports National League side Woking - dispelling any myths of commentator bias.
Tyler announced his Sky Sports exit on Saturday, ending a 33-year stint. The 77-year-old has commentated on the Premier League since the division's inception in 1992 and will continue to work for rival broadcasters. Sky Sports have called him 'The Voice'.
Tyler has worked as a commentator since 1974 and fans have long wondered who he supports. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football in 2018, the legendary broadcaster professed his love for Woking - the non-league side he's supported since he was a boy.
"I don’t do social media and this is one of the reasons why," said Tyler when quizzed. "They all think I support somebody. I support Woking and I am quite happy to say that. I first went to Woking when I was eight years old and it was the first football I had ever seen."
Tyler's greatest moment behind the microphone came in May 2012 when Sergio Aguero scored the winner for Manchester City in their Premier League title showdown against Queens Park Rangers. He famously screamed: "Agueeerrrrrrooooooooooooo!"
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Tyler also commentated on Liverpool's 4-3 win against Newcastle in April 1996, a game which many believe is the greatest in Premier League history. His "Collymore closing in" line - delivered when Stan Collymore scored the winner - will forever be remembered.
Tyler spoke to Mirror Football in 2018 (Sky)Are you surprised by the team Martin Tyler supports? Let us know in the comments below!
Although Tyler has enjoyed a glittering career as a commentator, he is also a respected football coach. Tyler even coached Woking between 2018 and 2022, working under manager Alan Dowson and winning promotion to the National League in May 2019.
Speaking just before his appointment in 2018, Tyler added: "I’m still in touch with the club, although I coach at a level just below them so it’s difficult to see them too much now.
"They’ve always been my team. This thing where you have to have a Premier League team is garbage. It’s the accident of birth. It’s the one thing that irks me when people say you must have a Premier League team, I absolutely, categorically don’t.
"How can I be a Manchester United fan when I’ve got excited about Aguero? All I do is react to the game. It’s a great bonus to not have a Premier League team. I’m probably the only commentator to not have a Premier League club."
Tyler paid an emotional tribute to his Sky Sports colleagues when the news of his exit was announced. He said: "In my humble opinion, the huge corporation Sky is today has stemmed from Sky Sports’ innovative and inspired coverage of the Premier League.
"It has been a privilege to play a small part in the broadcasting history of the greatest league in the world. Along the way I have worked alongside legions of wonderful professionals in all aspects of the television industry. I thank them all for their support and expertise. It has been an honour to be a member of a very gifted team."