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Les Murray dead, reaction, tributes, obituary: Iconic broadcaster passes away aged 71

AUSTRALIAN football is mourning loss of veteran SBS broadcaster Les Murray, aged 71.

3 min read
July 31, 2017 - 6:31PM
Les Murray.
Les Murray.

AUSTRALIAN football is mourning the loss of veteran SBS broadcaster Les Murray, aged 71, after a battle with illness.

Murray was a pioneer and icon in Australian football.

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater praised Les Murray’s contribution to Australian sport, hailing the way he helped pave the way for so many in Australian football.

Slater, who knew Murray when he was as young as 16, fondly recalls Murray “helping me greatly” - not just during his career, but by giving him his break after football with work at SBS.

“Les Murray was ‘Mr Soccer’ and devoted his life to the game,” Slater said.

“Les was someone we all looked up to; he did so much for the game.

“He came up with some great lines: ‘we are the guardians of the game’ comes to mind.

“He gave me my first job in television. Obviously when I started at Fox, we didn’t see each other as much but we never lost contact because wherever there was a major football event, Les was there.

“One of my fondest memories of Les was doing the World Cup final in 1998 with Les, in Paris, on the Champs-Élysées.

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater, with Les Murray, in 2002.
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater, with Les Murray, in 2002.

“Les loved the fact I played in France and spoke French. We had many laughs that night. That will be a very fond memory, for me.

“He gave me a lot of advice for my career, early on. People started following me when I moved to the Premier League but Les followed me in France and always made sure everyone knew what I was doing in France. He set up an interview with me in France, which was the first shown in Australia. It just shows how much he looked out for Australian football and footballers.

“Something that affected him greatly the loss of his great friend Johnny Warren and he’s now with him on the great football pitch in the sky.”

He concluded: “Les is not only a great loss to his family and friends, but a great loss to the game.”

“This is a very sad day for football. Few people become synonymous with their sport…but Les was one of those few,” said FFA Chairman Steven Lowy.

“He made an immense contribution to football in Australia through his professional work but above all through his passion... he literally brought the game to millions and connected us to the biggest sport in the world.

“I’ve been seeing his face and hearing his voice since I was a teenager and I am sure I speak for many when I say that football is not going to be quite the same without him around,” concluded Lowy.

“Les turned the term “the world game” into a reality for millions of Australians. He had unmatched passion along with his great friend the late Johnny Warren MBE OAM for what football could be and how to take it there,” said FFA CEO David Gallop.

Murray was born as László Ürge in Budapest, migrating to Australia in 1957 with his parents.

He later said he decided to anglicise his name because Ürge was difficult for Australians to pronounce and he suffered taunts.

He began working as a journalist in the 1970s and began at SBS in 1980, going on to become the network’s chief of sport and covering World Cups since 1986.

SBS football commentator, ‘Mr Football’ Les Murray.
SBS football commentator, ‘Mr Football’ Les Murray.

The 2014 World Cup was Murray’s last as SBS Chief Football Host and Editorial Supervisor, ahead of his semi-retirement after 34 years with SBS.

In that time he anchored, and was the Executive Producer of the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup Final, Australia’s National Soccer League (NSL) and covered all of the Socceroos’ World Cup campaigns between 1986 and 2006.

He was also a member of FIFA’s Ethics Committee during a problematic time for football’s governing body.

He became known as “Mr Football”, and was an iconic figure in the game, playing a considerable rise in the profile of the code in Australia.

21/06/2002. SBS World Cup television hosts, Johnny Warren and Les Murray.
21/06/2002. SBS World Cup television hosts, Johnny Warren and Les Murray.

He had a strong partnership with the late Socceroos captain and broadcaster Johnny Warren.

On his retirement in 2014 Murray said: “It’s not an easy decision to step down from doing what I have enjoyed so much for over three decades. But, as Johnny Warren used to tell me, you have to allow yourself a point when you can smell the roses you’ve planted.

“I hope I can legitimately claim that football is in a better place now than it was when SBS and I first went on a mission to build its profile.”

He is survived by daughters Tania and Natalie and is being mourned by friends, colleagues and football fans across Australia.

Originally published as Les Murray dead, reaction, tributes, obituary: Iconic broadcaster passes away aged 71

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/les-murray-dies-iconic-broadcaster-passes-away-aged-71/news-story/9d2f91bd1b0b01963ee7ddbe29d6861a