Ian Darke
Encyclopedia
Ian Darke is an English
football
and boxing commentator who currently works for ESPN US
. Darke was previously one of Sky's 'Big Four' football commentators alongside Martin Tyler
, Alan Parry
and Rob Hawthorne
. He was also the main commentator for Sky's big boxing fights, along with Jim Watt, they have covered some of the biggest fights involving British fighters, such as Ricky Hatton
's. In 2010 he switched from Sky to ESPN US.
covering boxing, athletics and football, before moving to Sky Sports
in 1992 to commentate on the newly-formed FA Premier League
. He was the number two to lead commentator Martin Tyler and was the main commentator for Ford Monday Night Football
.
In 1995, as Sky's boxing coverage expanded (to the point where the sport virtually disappeared from terrestrial screens), Darke switched permanently to be their main boxing commentator, his role on Monday Night Football being taken by Rob Hawthorne.
Nearly ten years later, after boxing promoter Frank Warren
took his fighters to ITV
, Sky's boxing output was significantly reduced, freeing up Darke for a return to 'live' football (although he had commentated on matches for an international audience, and had been heard on Sky covering some Champions League
matches). This coincided with Sky's new policy of rotating their main commentators. Previously, Martin Tyler covered all the 'big' matches; now, Darke was given matches such as Liverpool
v Manchester United, Arsenal
v Manchester United
and the 2005 Champions League semi-final between Chelsea
and Liverpool
.
Tyler later regained his number one spot, but the continued rotation still gave opportunities for other commentators and Darke enjoyed a prolific career with commentaries from the Premier League, Champions League and Football League, as well as maintaining his boxing commitments. In addition to his Premier League announcing work for Trans World International, Darke serves as a primary host for the company's weekly magazine show.
, and Darke was hired to be an ESPN
commentator for their coverage of the World Cup in the United States
. He became internationally known for his commentary on Dutch striker Giovanni van Bronckhorst's
goal vs. Uruguay in the first World Cup semifinal, in which he noted the strike was an "absolute firecracker". In the United States particularly, Darke became well known for his commentary after Landon Donovan
's injury-time goal allowing the USA to defeat Algeria 1-0 and advance to the second round - "Donovan has scored! Oh, can you believe this? Go, go, USA! Certainly through! Oh, it's incredible! You could not write a script like this!"
Despite beginning the 2010-11 English Premier League season with Sky in the UK, he was offered a three-year contract to join ESPN in the US as their voice of the Premier League. He accepted the offer, and now commentates alongside Steve McManaman
. ESPN has announced that Darke will expand his duties to commentate on MLS
games, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
and the 2014 FIFA World Cup
.
Darke paired with Julie Foudy to lead ESPN's coverage of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. He called a memorable quarterfinal match against Brazil. Following the USA's 122nd minute equalizer, he said, "Oh, can you believe this? Abby Wambach has saved the USA's life in this World Cup!" The United States would go on to win the match on penalty kicks.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and boxing commentator who currently works for ESPN US
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. Darke was previously one of Sky's 'Big Four' football commentators alongside Martin Tyler
Martin Tyler
Martin Tyler is an English football commentator who was voted as the FA Premier League Commentator of The Decade...
, Alan Parry
Alan Parry
Alan Parry is a British sports commentator, born and raised in Garston, Liverpool, concentrating on football and athletics. He has commentated for all three main broadcasters of football in the UK - the BBC, ITV and Sky TV, as well as for both BBC and commercial radio.Starting his career at BBC...
and Rob Hawthorne
Rob Hawthorne
Rob Hawthorne is a football commentator currently working for Sky Sports. He is most notable for his commentating alongside Andy Gray in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul.He was born in Dudley, Worcestershire now West Midlands...
. He was also the main commentator for Sky's big boxing fights, along with Jim Watt, they have covered some of the biggest fights involving British fighters, such as Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....
's. In 2010 he switched from Sky to ESPN US.
Broadcasting career
Darke worked for nearly ten years on BBC RadioBBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
covering boxing, athletics and football, before moving to Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
in 1992 to commentate on the newly-formed FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. He was the number two to lead commentator Martin Tyler and was the main commentator for Ford Monday Night Football
Ford Monday Night Football
Ford Monday Night Football is a football programme on Sky Sports which broadcasts live English football generally from the Premier League.-Original run:...
.
In 1995, as Sky's boxing coverage expanded (to the point where the sport virtually disappeared from terrestrial screens), Darke switched permanently to be their main boxing commentator, his role on Monday Night Football being taken by Rob Hawthorne.
Nearly ten years later, after boxing promoter Frank Warren
Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Darren Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter.-Early life and early career:The son of a bookmaker, Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row in London....
took his fighters to ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, Sky's boxing output was significantly reduced, freeing up Darke for a return to 'live' football (although he had commentated on matches for an international audience, and had been heard on Sky covering some Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
matches). This coincided with Sky's new policy of rotating their main commentators. Previously, Martin Tyler covered all the 'big' matches; now, Darke was given matches such as Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
v Manchester United, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
v Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and the 2005 Champions League semi-final between Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Tyler later regained his number one spot, but the continued rotation still gave opportunities for other commentators and Darke enjoyed a prolific career with commentaries from the Premier League, Champions League and Football League, as well as maintaining his boxing commitments. In addition to his Premier League announcing work for Trans World International, Darke serves as a primary host for the company's weekly magazine show.
ESPN
In 2010, Sky did not receive rights to the 2010 World Cup2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, and Darke was hired to be an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
commentator for their coverage of the World Cup in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He became internationally known for his commentary on Dutch striker Giovanni van Bronckhorst's
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni Christiaan van Bronckhorst OON , known as Gio in Spain, is a retired Dutch footballer of Moluccan descent who served as the captain of the Dutch national team from August 2008 until his retirement....
goal vs. Uruguay in the first World Cup semifinal, in which he noted the strike was an "absolute firecracker". In the United States particularly, Darke became well known for his commentary after Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the United States. He usually plays as a withdrawn forward, and can also be used as an attacking midfielder on either wing....
's injury-time goal allowing the USA to defeat Algeria 1-0 and advance to the second round - "Donovan has scored! Oh, can you believe this? Go, go, USA! Certainly through! Oh, it's incredible! You could not write a script like this!"
Despite beginning the 2010-11 English Premier League season with Sky in the UK, he was offered a three-year contract to join ESPN in the US as their voice of the Premier League. He accepted the offer, and now commentates alongside Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman
Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most...
. ESPN has announced that Darke will expand his duties to commentate on MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
games, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup will be held in Brazil in 2013, as a prelude to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is expected to be held from 15–30 June 2013...
and the 2014 FIFA World Cup
2014 FIFA World Cup
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014....
.
Darke paired with Julie Foudy to lead ESPN's coverage of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. He called a memorable quarterfinal match against Brazil. Following the USA's 122nd minute equalizer, he said, "Oh, can you believe this? Abby Wambach has saved the USA's life in this World Cup!" The United States would go on to win the match on penalty kicks.