Alan Hansen

Alan Hansen (born Alloa, Scotland, June 13, 1955) was one of football's most elegant defenders of his generation and later became arguably the most eloquent and respected pundit on the game when he finished playing.

Television Career

Sky Television employed Hansen as a pundit and summariser almost as soon as he ceased playing, and soon he had established enough of a reputation as a considered observer and thinker within the game for the BBC to approach him. For more than a decade now, Hansen has been employed as the main pundit for the BBC's football coverage (rights to show matches or highlights permitting) and he is known as a calm, authoritative, and rational analyst of the game who is particularly keen on highlighting the triumphs and mistakes of defenders. It is worth noting that unlike all the other ex-professional footballers now employed by the BBC, Hansen has always refused to sit with the commentator at matches; preferring instead to be in the studio at the stadium for live matches and at Television Centre for highlights programmes.

Related Topics:
Sky Television - BBC - Commentator - Studio - Stadium

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There were strong rumours that Hansen would be approached to take over as manager of Liverpool after his former captain Graeme Souness left in 1994. However, he ruled himself out of the running, stating that despite his great affection for the club, he simply was not interested in coaching or management; a position he has maintained ever since. Roy Evans got the job.

Related Topics:
Graeme Souness - 1994 - Roy Evans

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1995, after Manchester United had lost their opening fixture of the season to Aston Villa with a team containing many young players who had just broken through from the youth side, Hansen famously remarked: "You won't win anything with kids." It is a quote which he is constantly reminded of and for which he will be most remembered, as this Manchester United team (containing players such as Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt - all of whom were 20 or under) went on to win the League and Cup "double", including a defeat of Hansen's old club Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

Related Topics:
1995 - Aston Villa - Gary Neville - David Beckham - Paul Scholes - Nicky Butt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hansen continues to appear on the BBC's football coverage of domestic and international tournaments to this day. Away from football analysis, Hansen is a keen and talented golfer, playing off a handicap of three. He has hosted documentaries on the sport and worked at the Masters tournament for the BBC. He has also presented programmes on the rise in status and wealth of the modern footballer and appeared in numerous television commercials, most recently starring as a butler cleaning his master's football boots in an advert for Carlsberg lager. He is a columnist for the Daily Telegraph and the BBC website on football issues and has also built a good reputation as a motivational speaker.

Related Topics:
Golf - Handicap - Masters - Butler - Carlsberg - Lager - Daily Telegraph - Website - Motivation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hansen is married to Janet and has a son and a daughter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~