Thierry Gilardi
Encyclopedia
Thierry Gilardi was a French football commentator.
, Yvelines
of Italian stock. He was an avid reader of the French sports newspaper L'Équipe
from the age of six. He had always been passionate about sport, especially Rugby Union
. He began playing at 11 years old at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye school of rugby and continued to play until the age of 28.
In an interview with reporter Nicolas Augot about rugby, for a special edition of the French monthly magazine Attitude Rugby focused on Stade Français, he said: "Saint-Germain-en-Laye is the chief town of the Yvelines
, in the Île-de-France
. We must not forget that the Île-de-France Rugby Commity is the biggest in France by the number of licenced players and that the Saint-Germain-en-Laye club was the nursery for such players as the French fly-half, 'Franck Mesnel.'"
He was married and the father of three children. Along with his career as a journalist, he was, at the beginning of the 1990s, the president of Saint-Germain-en-Laye rugby club, before handing over the role to Marcel Martin. From 1997, he was vice-president of Stade Français rugby club.
, Gilardi began his career as a journalist with an internship in television in 1982 at France Inter, under the direction of Arlette Chabot
, where he was eventually taken on. He later worked with Pierre Loctin and Jacques Vendroux on football programs. Wanting to specialize in rugby union
, he had to be content with football, quoting "Football is my job; rugby is my passion. When I started in the profession, sports journalists were always pushed in the direction of football, but I am happy to cover any sport."
From 1987 until his death, he commented, presented, edited, and led many sports programs on French television. Behind the scenes, he took on other roles, with responsibilities for the drafting of sports programs on the French encrypted channel. He was editor and head of football from 1997 to 1999, then editor-in-chief and sports managing editor of sports at Canal+
from 1999 to 2001.
In 2005, he left Canal+ to rejoin TF1
to present the Sunday program Téléfoot
, replacing the iconic Thierry Roland. He was commentator and pundit for the matches in the UEFA Champions League
, for all French internationals
, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, alongside Jean-Michel Larqué
.
From September 2005 to June 2006, he co-presented LCI Morning with Mélissa Theuriau
. In 2007, he commentated on matches of the Rugby World Cup
on TF1 alongside Thierry Lacroix
and on the programme Télérugby.
His voice has also been heard in the series of FIFA football video games
produced by Electronic Arts
.
His last match for TF1 was the return match between Olympique Lyonnais
and Manchester United
in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on 4 March 2008, and his last programme was Téléfoot on 23 March.
. On the spot, paramedics tried to revive him and took him to the hospital at Port-Marly, where his health condition deteriorated sharply during the day.
At around 4 p.m, Thierry Gilardi died, aged 49, following a second heart attack, on the eve of a friendly football match between France and England
, on which he was due to commentate for TF1. The tribute of a minute’s silence and the wearing of black armbands as a sign of mourning
by the French players and the Stade Français rugby team, a few days later, showed the emotions of the world of sport throughout France. Additionally, Franck Ribéry
was booked for removing his shirt to show a tribute to Gilardi after scoring.
Jean-Michel Larqué, a friend of Gilardi's, was so shocked by his death he was unable to comment the match.
Gilardi's funeral took place on 31 March 2008, in the presence of numerous sports and TV personalities. He was buried in the cemetery of Montfort-l'Amaury.
Biography
Gilardi was born in Saint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
, Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
of Italian stock. He was an avid reader of the French sports newspaper L'Équipe
L'Équipe
L'Équipe is a French nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports, owned by Éditions Philippe Amaury. The paper is noted for coverage of football , rugby, motorsports and cycling...
from the age of six. He had always been passionate about sport, especially Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. He began playing at 11 years old at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye school of rugby and continued to play until the age of 28.
In an interview with reporter Nicolas Augot about rugby, for a special edition of the French monthly magazine Attitude Rugby focused on Stade Français, he said: "Saint-Germain-en-Laye is the chief town of the Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
, in the Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
. We must not forget that the Île-de-France Rugby Commity is the biggest in France by the number of licenced players and that the Saint-Germain-en-Laye club was the nursery for such players as the French fly-half, 'Franck Mesnel.'"
He was married and the father of three children. Along with his career as a journalist, he was, at the beginning of the 1990s, the president of Saint-Germain-en-Laye rugby club, before handing over the role to Marcel Martin. From 1997, he was vice-president of Stade Français rugby club.
Career
A graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques de ParisInstitut d'Études Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
, Gilardi began his career as a journalist with an internship in television in 1982 at France Inter, under the direction of Arlette Chabot
Arlette Chabot
Arlette Chabot is a prominent French journalist and political commentator. She was until August 2010 the head of the editorial team of France 2...
, where he was eventually taken on. He later worked with Pierre Loctin and Jacques Vendroux on football programs. Wanting to specialize in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, he had to be content with football, quoting "Football is my job; rugby is my passion. When I started in the profession, sports journalists were always pushed in the direction of football, but I am happy to cover any sport."
From 1987 until his death, he commented, presented, edited, and led many sports programs on French television. Behind the scenes, he took on other roles, with responsibilities for the drafting of sports programs on the French encrypted channel. He was editor and head of football from 1997 to 1999, then editor-in-chief and sports managing editor of sports at Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
from 1999 to 2001.
In 2005, he left Canal+ to rejoin TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
to present the Sunday program Téléfoot
Téléfoot
Téléfoot is a French football programme created by Pierre Cangioni and produced by TF1 Production for TF1.-External links:* *...
, replacing the iconic Thierry Roland. He was commentator and pundit for the matches in the UEFA 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...
, for all French internationals
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, alongside Jean-Michel Larqué
Jean-Michel Larqué
Jean-Michel Larqué is a retired football player, and now a journalist. He has also been player-coach of RC Paris, his only experience as head-coach.-Biography:...
.
From September 2005 to June 2006, he co-presented LCI Morning with Mélissa Theuriau
Mélissa Theuriau
Mélissa Theuriau is a French journalist and news anchor for M6. She studied Journalism and became a newscaster on TV. She became an internet phenomenon when a compilation of her reading news was uploaded and newspapers voted her the world's most beautiful news reporter...
. In 2007, he commentated on matches of the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
on TF1 alongside Thierry Lacroix
Thierry Lacroix
Thierry Lacroix is a former French rugby union footballer. He won 43 caps playing at fly-half for the French rugby union side. He made his international test debut at the age of 22 on 4 November 1989 as a replacement against Australia. He was part of the winning side in the 1993 Five Nations...
and on the programme Télérugby.
His voice has also been heard in the series of FIFA football video games
FIFA (series)
FIFA, also known as FIFA Football or FIFA Soccer, is a series of association football video games, released annually by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label...
produced by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
.
His last match for TF1 was the return match between Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
and 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...
in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on 4 March 2008, and his last programme was Téléfoot on 23 March.
Death
On 25 March 2008, after a dinner between friends, he complained of back pain and suffered a heart attack at 3 a.m. (local time) at his home in Montfort-l'AmauryMontfort-l'Amaury
Montfort-l'Amaury is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris N of Rambouillet....
. On the spot, paramedics tried to revive him and took him to the hospital at Port-Marly, where his health condition deteriorated sharply during the day.
At around 4 p.m, Thierry Gilardi died, aged 49, following a second heart attack, on the eve of a friendly football match between France and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, on which he was due to commentate for TF1. The tribute of a minute’s silence and the wearing of black armbands as a sign of mourning
Mourning
Mourning is, in the simplest sense, synonymous with grief over the death of someone. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which the bereaved participate or are expected to participate...
by the French players and the Stade Français rugby team, a few days later, showed the emotions of the world of sport throughout France. Additionally, Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and...
was booked for removing his shirt to show a tribute to Gilardi after scoring.
Jean-Michel Larqué, a friend of Gilardi's, was so shocked by his death he was unable to comment the match.
Gilardi's funeral took place on 31 March 2008, in the presence of numerous sports and TV personalities. He was buried in the cemetery of Montfort-l'Amaury.