Thierry Roland

Thierry José Roland (French pronunciation: [tjɛʁi ʒoze ʁɔˈlɑ̃]; 4 August 1937 – 16 June 2012) was a French sports commentator who was France's leading football commentator for 59 years. He began his career as a radio journalist for the ORTF when he was just 16 years old. Roland then became a television sports journalist at age 20. He commentated on more than 1,000 football matches, including thirteen World Cups beginning with the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile and including France's maiden World Cup win as hosts in 1998. He also commentated on nine UEFA European Championships. He was nicknamed La voix du football ("The voice of football"). Roland was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburban city just southwest of Paris. He died in the 15th arrondissement of Paris of a cerebrovascular event at age 74.