Top 5 football pundits

Image result for gary neville sky sports studio
Neville (far right) is one of the expert pundits who has established himself in recent years (Picture source: Sky Sports)

Pundits have been ever-present in football, with experts breaking down the analytics of games on a weekly basis. Explaining a ninety-minute game to the average viewer in a fun yet informative way is the task at hand.

Many former players, managers and presenters are involved in the debate and discussion surrounding the game, involving tactics and more.

Dissecting important moments within matches, while critically taking on the ideas of managers and coaches, pundits draw their expert opinion from their own experiences and some are more highly praised than others.

Here, we take a look at 5 of the world's best football pundits:

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author's and they do not necessarily represent the views of Sportskeeda.


#5 Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand Press Conference London
Rio Ferdinand Press Conference London

Rio Ferdinand has seamlessly transitioned from his role on the pitch to one off of it, analysing football matches and giving viewers a reliable insight into the mindset of the players plying their trade at the highest level.

A brutally honest pundit and a strong defender in his day, the former Premier League winner is part of the team at BT Sport, contributing especially to the channel's Champions League coverage.

Informing viewers of the significant, mental aspect of handling big games, Ferdinand manages to capture the attention of the viewers with passion and enthusiasm.

Regardless of whether the retired central defender steps into a boxing ring in the future, as he has recently claimed he desires to do, or not, Ferdinand is well in line to secure a long and prosperous career in football punditry.

#4 Roy Keane

Republic of Ireland v Austria - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier
Keane oversees a Republic of Ireland training session

Former Sunderland manager and Premier League winner with Manchester United as a player, Roy Keane is currently Ireland's assistant manager as well as a media pundit, expertly breaking down teams, players and their playing styles. The Irishman may not be the most articulate pundit in the game but puts across his point of view very bluntly.

An experienced figure, Keane brings a whole host of knowledge and expertise to the Premier League discussion in particular. With over 30 years' experience, he's perfectly placed to talk about the league he managed to lift on multiple occasions as Manchester United captain.

With his simple tactical breakdowns and disregard for off-game commercial knowledge, Keane is able to provide viewers with significant insight into the simplicity of professional tactics. Despite being relatively new in the media, it's likely that he'll be eager for another managerial job when the right one comes along.

A strong holding midfielder during his career, Keane was an intelligent footballer who provided cover for his backline and captained Alex Ferguson's side to Premier League triumphs.

#3 Don Hutchison

Don Hutchison of Scotland
Don Hutchison of Scotland has begun to gain recognition among pundits

Former Scotland international turned commentator and TV pundit, Don Hutchison is a talented up-and-coming analyst, who is developing his reputation by reviewing both Premier League and Serie A matches.

Hutchison is a former Premier League player himself and featured for numerous clubs including West Ham, Liverpool, and their Merseyside rivals Everton, to name but a few during his career.

With 26 caps and six goals for Scotland's national team, Hutchison was a midfielder who quickly established his quality domestically and internationally; his extended stay in England's top tier is a testament to his quality.

Injuries and age ultimately caught up with him, however, and, after retiring from the game in 2008, the Scotsman began doing media work for a range of different outlets.

A relatively new commentator, Hutchison has started gaining recognition as a TV pundit in the last two years, most notably for the unrivalled detail he offers in his analysis of team, and player performances, alike.

#2 Jamie Carragher

Jamie
Jamie Carragher's transition from player to pundit has been pretty smooth

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has settled into his role as pundit and commentator with relative ease. After a nervous start to his punditry career, his partnership with Neville on the much anticipated MNF show grew a rabid following.

Bringing out the best in both pundits technically with informed, critically calculated opinion, as well as great authentic banter between the two, Monday Night Football has captured the imagination of viewers. With Neville currently busy fulfilling other commitments, Carragher has carried the show for much of the last two seasons in the former United player's absence.

Having interviewed the likes of Klopp, Ranieri and Pardew on multiple occasions, Carragher has arguably become the number one pundit on the most seriously watched football show, MNF. Thierry Henry replaces the former Manchester United defender Neville to partner up with Carragher on most episodes, when Neville is unavailable.

#1 Gary Neville

England Training Session
Neville conducting an England training session during his time as a coach

Widely seen as the top dog in many sectors at the moment, Gary Neville is number one here.

A former Manchester United and England full-back, who is the club's 5th longest-serving player with 602 appearances, Neville is currently a TV pundit and has delved into football coaching since retiring in 2011.

The eight-time Premier League winner is a pundit for Sky Sports with a weekly column on the league's fixtures. Also a part of the team which conducts shows like Monday Night Football, Neville also features either on commentary or in Sky studios when they're covering big matches.

A fantastic analyst who is brutally critical at times when he needs to be, Neville methodically breaks down areas which he focuses on and provides viewers with a perspective on the finer aspects of football - something many may not have seen prior to his own analysis.

Neville has progressively reduced the amount of punditry he does feature in, due to various business development projects he's currently overseeing. However, the 42-year-old's fascination for the sport will always keep him closely linked to the beautiful game, where he can continue to share his expert opinions.

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Edited by Mosope Ominiyi