What Channel are the Euros on? Graeme Souness lands ITV pundit gig
TV

Graeme Souness joins ITV as Euros 2021 pundit, reflects on career

Graeme Souness is one of the legends on the Euros 2021 commentator panel

| Updated:

The Euros 2021 football championship is now upon us, but what channel are they on in the UK?

ITV has a dedicated team of commentators and pundits lined up, among the non-nonsense Graeme Souness.

A legendary player and manager, and now regular pundit for Sky Sports, what more is there to know about the impressive Scot?

Euros 2021 Graeme Souness
Graeme will be a pundit for ITV (Credit: ITV)

How did ITV Euros 2021 pundit Graeme Souness become famous?

The 68-year-old was born in Edinburgh and became a star when he was transferred after a successful stint at Middlesborough in the late 1970s.

He joined First Division powerhouse Liverpool in 1978 and came on board just in time for the club’s most successful ever period.

During his time at Anfield, he not only became captain but also lifted five First Division championship trophies and three European Cups.

Read more: Gary Lineker sparks outrage on Twitter as he ‘pokes fun’ at TV licence fee increase

In 1986 he went abroad to Sampdoria in Italy and won the Italian Cup there.

He finished his playing career at Glasgow Rangers.

But it wasn’t just on the club circuit Graeme was a star – he was a part of the Scotland team that went to two World Cups.

Euros 2021 Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness in his Liverpool playing days (Credit: Colorsport/Shutterstock (3067778a))

What was he like as a manager?

Known as a hardman on the field, he carried his fiery demeanour over to management.

Becoming player-manager at Rangers, the team won two league championships under his stewardship.

He then went to Turkey for an eventful spell as manager of Galatasaray. However, his two-year stay in Istanbul will be remembered for one moment.

During the Turkish Cup Final, Galatasaray played fierce cross-town rivals Fenerbahçe.

He nearly sparked a riot when he ran onto the pitch and towards the centre circle, planting a huge Galatasaray flag in the grass.

After his Turkish adventure, Graeme managed in Portugal (Benfica), Italy (Torino) and back in England (Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle).

Euros 2021 Graeme Souness
Graeme had a heart attack in 2015 (Credit: Grant Buchanan / Flynet – SplashNews / SplashNews.com)

Triple heart bypass surgery when he was 38

Always known as the ultimate competitor on the field and off, Graeme had to change his lifestyle when he suffered a heart attack in 2015.

This followed triple heart bypass surgery when he was only 38.

He says: “When I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, I was as fit as any other player on the pitch.

“I never thought I’d be the type of person to get heart disease but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

Graeme Souness praised for support of gay community

Now a firm favourite on Sky Sports, Graeme raised eyebrows when he attended Gay Pride in Brighton in 2019.

In an on-air discussion, he encouraged gay and bisexual players to come out.

“I went to Brighton Pride and it was enlightening,” he said.

“We have to create an environment where they feel comfortable.”

His stance, contrary to his perceived hard man image, won praise from fans and gay rights campaigners alike.

Euros 2021 Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness and second wife Karen (Credit: FameFlynet.uk.com / SplashNews.com)

Is Graeme Souness married and does he have children?

Graeme married his first wife Danielle in 1984, and together they went on to have three children. They also adopted another child.

Sadly, Graeme and Danielle separated in 1989 and divorced later.

Read more: How many times was Euros 2021 pundit Lee Dixon capped for England?

Graeme remarried in 1994, and with Karen he had a son.

Karen also has two children from a previous relationship, one of which (Lauren) works as a sports presenter on the Al-Jazeera network.

Planting the Galatasaray flag at Fenerbahce | Graeme Souness on his time in Turkey.

Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

Related Topics