Thierry Gilardi

Thierry Gilardi (July 26 1958 - March 25 2008) was a French football and rugby commentator.

Biography

Gilardi was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye of Italian stock. He was an avid reader of the French sports newspaper "L'Équipe" from the age of six [ [http://www.linternaute.com/television/stars/deces-de-thierry-gilardi-hommage/un-passionne-de-sport.shtml Un passionné de sport] , Linternaute.com] . 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", he said: "Saint-Germain-en-Laye is the chief town of Yvelines, in the Ile-de-France. We must not forget that the Ile-de-France Rugby Union is the greatest in France by the number of teams 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 1990’s, 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 Francais rugby club.

Career

A graduate of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Thierry Gilardi began his career as a journalist with an internship in television in 1982 at France Inter, under the direction of 'Arlette Chabot [ [http://www.radiofrance.fr/thematiques/sport/accueil/articles.php?id=365005906&nid=3 « Thierry Gilardi nous a quittés »] sur le site de Radio France, le 25 mars 2008.] , 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’ [ [http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/economie/medias/0,,3790282,00-disparition-thierry-gilardi-.html LCI.fr Thierry Gilardi est mort] ] .

From 1987 until his death, he commentated, presented, edited and led many sports programs on French televisionBehiind 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. [ [http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/medias/audiovisuel/20080326.OBS6633/portrait_de_thierry_gilardi.html « Portrait de Thierry Gilardi »] sur le site du Nouvel Observateur, le 26 mars 2008]

In 2005, he left Canal+ to rejoin TF1 to present the Sunday programme, "Téléfoot", replacing the iconic Thierry Roland. He was commentator for the matches in the UEFA Champions League, for all French internationals and the 2006 World Cup, alongside Jean-Michel Larqué.

From September 2005 to June 2006, he co-presented "LCI Morning" with Melissa 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 videos produced by Electronic Arts.

His last match for TF1 was the return match between Olympique Lyon and Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on the 4 March 2008, and his last programme was "Téléfoot" on March 23rd.

Death

On the 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'Amaury. 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. [ [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4uyxh_journal-du-mercredi-26-mars-edition_news Journal du 26 mars 2008, édition de 19 h, sur la chaîne locale Yvelines Première] Dailymotion.com]

At around 4 p.m, Thierry Gilardi died, aged 49, following a second heart attack, [ [http://www.lemonde.fr/carnet/article/2008/03/26/le-journaliste - Sports-thierry-gilardi-east-mort_1027325_3382.html # ens_id = 1027327 Article of the World ] 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 Ribery was carded for removing his shirt to show a tribute to Gilardi after scoring. [cite web|title=France 1-0 England: Ribery ruins Beckham's ton. ESPN | accessdate=2008-03-26 | url =http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=238013&cc=5901]

Jean-Michel Larqué, a friend of Thierry Gilardi was so shocked by his death he was unable to commentate on the match.

Gilardi's funeral took place on the 31 March 2008, in the presence of numerous sports and TV personalities. He was buried in the cemetery of Montfort-l'Amaury.

References