Longtime BBC Pundit Alan Hansen Announces Retirement From 'Match Of The Day'

BBC's leading pundit Alan Hansen "is to retire" after the 2014 World Cup, according to Michael Butler of the London GUARDIAN. Having "been a central figure" in the BBC's football coverage since the inception of the Premier League in '92, the former Liverpool captain "will not pursue a new contract to remain on Match of the Day when his deal expires in July." Having "shelved plans to quit three years ago," the 58-year-old said, "I'm retiring from Match of the Day at the end of the season. I will have been there for 22 years and will be 59, so it's the right time for me." The former center-half said that "he rejected the chance to manage Manchester City when Brian Horton was sacked in 1995 and also turned down an approach from Sky" (GUARDIAN, 9/4). EUROSPORT reported Hansen reportedly earns £40,000 ($62,000) an episode for the network (EUROSPORT, 9/4).