Hear our Tommy Smyth interview to learn more about the Irish-American who is famous for the catch phrase, “Bulge in the old onion bag.”
Tommy Smyth was one of the most prominent personalities covering soccer at ESPN. In 2010, Tommy sat down with World Soccer Talk for an interview about his career, soccer and ESPN.
Thomas Michael (Tommy) Smyth joined ESPN in February 1993 as a soccer analyst for ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN International. He is an anchor of ESPN Soccernet Press Pass, ESPN International’s global football roundtable discussion and is a game analyst for Italian Serie ‘A’, La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. This summer Smyth served as ESPN Radio’s lead match analyst for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and in June 2008, was a game and studio analyst during ESPN’s critically acclaimed coverage of the UEFA European Football Championship 2008 (Euro 08). He has also worked on three other FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002 and ’06).
At ESPN, Smyth has called more than 3,000 international matches from leagues all over the world. His credits include providing game analysis for ESPN’s telecast of European championship qualifiers, the Copa Libertadores, the South American Super Cup, Brazilian national championships, the Dutch league and the Italian Super Cups.
Smyth’s insightful soccer analysis originates from having called professional and international matches played by the World’s best players. Leading up to the 2002 World Cup, Smyth would have seen all action involving most of the players as he co-hosted ESPN International’s “Road to World Cup 2002,” aired in over 150 countries.
Smyth served as a game analyst for ESPN and ESPN2’s coverage of the 1998 FIFA Men’s World Cup in France. He also provided studio analysis for ESPN2’s World Cup 2Night, and ESPN & ESPN2’s pre-game and halftime coverage. Smyth served as a co-host of Latin Futbol Weekly, a weekly South American soccer report that aired weekly on ESPN2, and was seen in more than 200 other countries via ESPN International (1993-99). He called World Cup ’94 action for the One-on-One Radio Network.
Smyth has also provided game analysis for Major League Soccer’s NY/NJ Metrostars on a New York regional network as well as select national MLS telecasts on ESPN and ESPN2. In the summer of 1999, he served as co-host of the first soccer call-in show on New York’s WFAN Radio – The Metro Soccer Show.
Smyth has worked several different seasons as an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of MLS. In 2010 he also worked for the new MLS club in Philadelphia.
Smyth has also been host of a radio program heard Saturdays at 6 p.m. ET on WVOX 1460 AM in New Rochelle, NY. He is best known in New York’s Irish community as the “Voice of New York’s Gaelic Park.” Smyth also serves as a commentator during the annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade for WNBC Channel 4. In 2007, he was honored as the Grand Marshal for New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
READ MORE: Tommy Smyth says farewell to ESPN after 24 years
Born in Knockbridge’s County Louth, Ireland, Smyth moved to the United States in 1963 following a brief soccer career with a local Irish team. In America, he played with the Shamrock Club of the German American Soccer League.
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Tommy Smyth is one of the most prominent personalities covering soccer at ESPN. Earlier this week, Tommy sat down with The Gaffer for this edition of the EPL Talk Podcast.
Some of the topics discussed with Tommy Smyth include:
- His views on whether soccer will become more popular in the United States after this summer’s World Cup has ended,
- What his role will be during the tournament and where we can expect to see and hear him,
- How far soccer on television has progressed since he began working at ESPN 19 years ago,
- What he thinks of the TV ratings thus far for the 2009-10 Premier League games shown on ESPN2,
- Whether it hurts him when he reads or hears negative criticism aimed at him,
- Who will win the Premier League trophy this season,
- and much more.
Don’t forget that the EPL Talk Podcast is the only Premier League interview and analysis podcast available for free. In the past few weeks, we’ve interviewed legends of the game such as Steve McManaman, Efan Ekoku, Martin Chivers and Robbie Earle as well as experts such as Declan Hill, Simon Kuper, Misha Sher, Matt Dickinson, Andy Brassell and many others. Why pay $40 a year to rival podcasts when you can subscribe to the EPL Talk Podcast for FREE featuring interviews with the biggest names in football?
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, World Cup, Euro 2024 & more
Live & On Demand TV Streaming
- Price: $35/mo. for Sling Blue
- Watch Premier League, World Cup & MLS
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $9.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $13.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & more
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $4.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & NWSL
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $4.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season
110+ channels, live & on-demand
- Price: $59.95/mo. for Plus Package
- Includes FOX, FS1, ESPN, TUDN & more
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Dave
February 25, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Please please,please get rid of this doughnut. He is a major embarrassment to all who know and love the game of football. He is utterly clueless and has clearly never played the game at any decent level and is forever stating the obvious and talks for talks sake. He drives me nuts! Tommy Smyth with a Y should be with a T for Tosser. If ESPN wants to get any credibilty then sack him the twit now!!!
He has been in the states since 1963 and that stupid accent of his gets worse somehow, he must practice it!!!
ned flanders
February 13, 2010 at 9:37 pm
You know what… most people I watch football with would rather chew their own foot than have to listen to Tommy talk so when I just told a friend that I was DL this podcast right now to hear him, the response was “Are you kidding?”.
Actually, it was “Are you f @@^@ kidding? WHY!!!???!?!”.
Because you guys asked him
>Whether it hurts him when he reads or hears negative criticism aimed at him,
I was always curious if he realized how much people despised him.
I cant think of any other announcer that brings this kind of feelings.
Not even Tommy Heisohn (for NBA fans).
My cousin says its all due to the accent. Throw a british accent to the americans and they think its better than it raelly is.
You might have the most common of accents but here, you sound like royalty.
You can be the biggest wanker but wth the right accent to sell it, you pass off as knowledgeable.
My friend in Canada says they have the same problem. You cant turn on any TV station that carries football taht doesnt have a brit commenting. In the french part of the country, they import french from France (the accent differences being like british and NOrleans drawl.) for the past 3 decades.
I love World Soccer Daily but I keep saying that football will never truly be an american sport (as opposed to the immigrants game) until every soccer show stops having their token english accent.
Its REALLY not a hard game to figure out and there is no reason why americans cant do these jobs but the accent sells, Im telling you.
So, Im gonna pour myself a tall one, light up some wonderful sativa my landlady grows and listen to Tommy Smyth.
My friend will pass he says. He’d rather hit himself in the crotch with a hammer instead. More pleasant.
Who knows? I might even be back for some more if its good (i know, its not fair judging a podcast when the guest is bound to make you bias so i will probably give it another episode a shot as well) but at 3hrs per day, 5 days a week, the 40$ guys have spoiled me something fierce.
nick
February 13, 2010 at 9:07 am
Good interview G-man,Tommy came across as a nice fella- But im sorry hes the worst commentator/Pundit on t.v. Theres a universal groan when hes on in the pub, he talks so much nonsense………..
BigBlueAL
February 13, 2010 at 3:13 am
Agreed totally with the above comments, he sounded 100X smarter in this interview than anything Ive ever seen of him. I actually have much more respect for him now than I did before. Real good interview.
Tim
February 13, 2010 at 1:14 am
What Smyth does drives soccer fans bonkers as what Lou Holtz drives college football fans crazy. Lou is one of the most intelligent football minds out there; Smyth is brighter than he lets on during matches. Its just ESPN drawing in the haters who love to criticize.
Peludoguy
February 12, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I’m a big fan of Tommy Smythe; I’ve enjoyed hearing him call games for more than 15 years now. In my humble opinion (as a former semi-pro and collegiate player), he is the best soccer announcer in the English language. I don’t understand the occasional criticism that he gets. Perhaps he is just too colorful and full of life for some people. Keep up the great work Tommy!
we hate tommy smith
February 12, 2010 at 1:21 pm
tommy smith knows nothing about soccer.how he gets paid to talk crap on the box about something he knows nothing about drive me mad.
http://www.gethimofftv.com
Rod
February 12, 2010 at 11:58 am
Get Tommy to explain the away goals rule in the Champion’s League competition.
barry
February 12, 2010 at 11:00 am
Well then his personality on air is completely different. He came across as very astute and reasonable with his comments in this interview, yet when he is on the air, he seems to try to be the exact opposite.
barry
February 12, 2010 at 8:47 am
This can’t be Tommy Smyth lol
The Gaffer
February 12, 2010 at 9:09 am
Why not Barry?
Cheers,
The Gaffer