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Geoff Shreeves broke Branislav Ivanovic’s heart, sparred with Sir Alex Ferguson and left Jurgen Klopp fuming
Geoff Shreeves has become the latest Sky Sports regular to hang up his microphone. The pitchside reporter has been part of the furniture at Sky, working for the broadcaster since the Premier League’s inception in 1992. Shreeves has been one of the faces of SkyGettyHe started out as a show runner in 1992sky sportsBut now, the 58-year-old has joined veteran commentator Martin Tyler by calling it a day at Sky. Announcing the news, Shreeves said: “There’s an old saying that you always have to know the best time to leave even the greatest party. “And that’s what my 32 years at Sky have been – the most fantastic party I could ever imagined attending. From the first kick of a ball in the live coverage of the Premier League to Manchester City’s title celebrations last season – with plenty in between. “I have been fortunate to work for a ground-breaking company who have helped revolutionise football. But the time is right to move on. “Sky have been incredibly generous in recognition of my service and I can’t speak more highly of so many people I’ve worked with there over three decades. I now have the opportunity for new experiences which I’m looking forward to announcing in the very near future.” Covering Manchester United and Arsenal’s early dominance through to Leicester’s astonishing win and Liverpool’s titanic title bouts with Manchester City, Shreeves has seen it all. Some things haven’t always gone to plan, though, as we look back on some of his rather amusing career highlights. Breaking Ivanovic’s heart Undoubtedly the moment that pops into anyone’s mind when they think of the reporter is his infamous 2012 interview with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. The Serbian had just helped the Blues qualify for the Champions League final by beating Barcelona, but a yellow card he was given ruled him out of the showpiece with Bayern Munich. He didn’t know, though, which soon became clear when Shreeves said: “You know that means you’re out of the final now, unfortunately that means you don’t play in the final.” Ivanovic barely got out the word ‘unfortunately’ as he got choked up, while Ashley Cole despairingly watched it all unfold. You could hear Ivanovic’s heart breaking from homesky sports Dumb and Dumber Interviewing Hollywood talent is nothing new for Shreeves with Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall on his CV, but nothing could have compared him for Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. The two rocked up at the Emirates for Arsenal v Man United in 2014 and the chaos began before the interview even started with Carrey jumping around in the background. When asked to pick out his favourite player from the teamsheet, Daniels made up ‘Seth Morgan’ as the two jokers were happy to reveal their lack of football knowledge. After a conversation about pubic hair, they then revealed their song for the match which included the lyric ‘we were with the goalie’s mum last night’. Carrey was at his bestsky sportsDaniels mocked the teamsheetsky sportsSir Alex Ferguson love-in Sky Sports is often associated with the phrase ‘unbelievable, Jeff’ but Ferguson coined ‘well done, Geoff’ during their numerous interviews. The two would often spar in pre and post-match press conferences, which could be risky with Ferguson already boycotting the BBC. Their friendship culminated in Ferguson giving Shreeves a shoulder barge during title celebrations. The reporter then joked the FA were looking into the ‘act of hooliganism’. Ferguson and Shreeves had a playful relationshipsky sportsFerguson would always say ‘well done’ after their interviewssky sports Teasing players Shreeves is more than happy to wind up multi-millionaire athletes, now regularly taking aim at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. One of his best attempts came back in Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham days when he was seen at White Hart Lane talking about how it would be a ‘major surprise’ if Peter Crouch started, adding he ‘doesn’t deserve his place’. The audience then saw what was going on behind the cameras with the Spurs players walking past as Shreeves said ‘Pete, how are you mate?’ Shreeves was giving a brutal assessment of Crouch’s performancessky sportsBut he knew the Spurs striker was approachingsky sportsKlopp clashes One thing non-Liverpool fans love to see is an angry Jurgen Klopp, and Shreeves was happy to give them one on numerous occasions. With the Reds’ 68-game unbeaten run ended at Anfield during a poor 2020/21 Covid campaign, Shreeves asked if the title was still possible and Klopp fired back. “I can’t believe this, I don’t understand you, the only thing you want to talk about is us becoming champions,” he said. There were similar scenes during Liverpool’s first title win in three decades the season before, with the Reds seemingly letting their foot off the gas after clinching the title. A 4-0 loss to Manchester City followed, and when Shreeves indicated the players might be on the bea
Geoff Shreeves has become the latest Sky Sports regular to hang up his microphone.
The pitchside reporter has been part of the furniture at Sky, working for the broadcaster since the Premier League’s inception in 1992.
But now, the 58-year-old has joined veteran commentator Martin Tyler by calling it a day at Sky.
Announcing the news, Shreeves said: “There’s an old saying that you always have to know the best time to leave even the greatest party.
“And that’s what my 32 years at Sky have been – the most fantastic party I could ever imagined attending. From the first kick of a ball in the live coverage of the Premier League to Manchester City’s title celebrations last season – with plenty in between.
“I have been fortunate to work for a ground-breaking company who have helped revolutionise football. But the time is right to move on.
“Sky have been incredibly generous in recognition of my service and I can’t speak more highly of so many people I’ve worked with there over three decades. I now have the opportunity for new experiences which I’m looking forward to announcing in the very near future.”
Covering Manchester United and Arsenal’s early dominance through to Leicester’s astonishing win and Liverpool’s titanic title bouts with Manchester City, Shreeves has seen it all.
Some things haven’t always gone to plan, though, as we look back on some of his rather amusing career highlights.
Breaking Ivanovic’s heart
Undoubtedly the moment that pops into anyone’s mind when they think of the reporter is his infamous 2012 interview with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
The Serbian had just helped the Blues qualify for the Champions League final by beating Barcelona, but a yellow card he was given ruled him out of the showpiece with Bayern Munich.
He didn’t know, though, which soon became clear when Shreeves said: “You know that means you’re out of the final now, unfortunately that means you don’t play in the final.”
Ivanovic barely got out the word ‘unfortunately’ as he got choked up, while Ashley Cole despairingly watched it all unfold.
Dumb and Dumber
Interviewing Hollywood talent is nothing new for Shreeves with Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall on his CV, but nothing could have compared him for Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.
The two rocked up at the Emirates for Arsenal v Man United in 2014 and the chaos began before the interview even started with Carrey jumping around in the background.
When asked to pick out his favourite player from the teamsheet, Daniels made up ‘Seth Morgan’ as the two jokers were happy to reveal their lack of football knowledge.
After a conversation about pubic hair, they then revealed their song for the match which included the lyric ‘we were with the goalie’s mum last night’.
Sir Alex Ferguson love-in
Sky Sports is often associated with the phrase ‘unbelievable, Jeff’ but Ferguson coined ‘well done, Geoff’ during their numerous interviews.
The two would often spar in pre and post-match press conferences, which could be risky with Ferguson already boycotting the BBC.
Their friendship culminated in Ferguson giving Shreeves a shoulder barge during title celebrations.
The reporter then joked the FA were looking into the ‘act of hooliganism’.
Teasing players
Shreeves is more than happy to wind up multi-millionaire athletes, now regularly taking aim at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
One of his best attempts came back in Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham days when he was seen at White Hart Lane talking about how it would be a ‘major surprise’ if Peter Crouch started, adding he ‘doesn’t deserve his place’.
The audience then saw what was going on behind the cameras with the Spurs players walking past as Shreeves said ‘Pete, how are you mate?’
Klopp clashes
One thing non-Liverpool fans love to see is an angry Jurgen Klopp, and Shreeves was happy to give them one on numerous occasions.
With the Reds’ 68-game unbeaten run ended at Anfield during a poor 2020/21 Covid campaign, Shreeves asked if the title was still possible and Klopp fired back.
“I can’t believe this, I don’t understand you, the only thing you want to talk about is us becoming champions,” he said.
There were similar scenes during Liverpool’s first title win in three decades the season before, with the Reds seemingly letting their foot off the gas after clinching the title.
A 4-0 loss to Manchester City followed, and when Shreeves indicated the players might be on the beach, Klopp bit back saying: “It makes no sense, this question!”
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