Clive Tyldesley is a victim of a wider trend – broadcasters are obsessed with younger stars

Clive Tyldesley
(Image credit: PA)

Tributes rang out for Clive Tyldesley on Tuesday. He trended on Twitter all morning, as football fans of all biases scribbled their favourite Tyldesley-isms onto their timelines, like a giant yearbook commemorating a career.

Only his switch from being ITV’s main football commentator to Sam Matterface’s deputy felt less like the natural passing of the baton, and more like the regeneration of a new Doctor Who. Tyldesley sat in his kitchen explaining how he really doesn’t want to go, rather than thanking everyone for the kind words and reflecting on his career.

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Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.