Jeff Stelling's dream Soccer Saturday line-up as host announces departure

Saturday afternoons without Jeff Stelling will take some getting used to.

Since 1994, the affable presenter has anchored Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday with his unique wit and encyclopaedic footballing knowledge turning the show into an institution.

It's a show that should have never worked. Watching people watch football matches doesn't sound the most enticing product, but for a generation of fans it has been a must watch.

But after 27 years, Stelling, 66, announced this season would be his last in the host's seat.

"I have loved every moment of my 30 years with Sky, but like every Saturday afternoon the time eventually comes to blow the final whistle," he said on Sky Sports last month.

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"I am proud to have been part of such a winning team for so long and look forward to the many more special moments on Soccer Saturday for the rest of this season - and perhaps even another promotion push from Hartlepool United."

Stelling hasn't confirmed the reason behind his departure, but reports have suggested that it stems from the decision to axe his co-hosts as part of a major shakeup last year.

Pundits Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas were all moved on in August 2020.

The trio, along with Stelling and Paul Merson had been the consistent line-up prior to the start last season, with the former admitting their departure was one of his "saddest days" with the broadcaster.

"They have been part of a team that for me was the best," Stelling posted on social media shortly after the news broke.

The five had a formula that many have tried - and failed - to replicate, while their chemistry was unrivalled for a number of years.

But Stelling's dream punditry line-up could even give that great quintet a run for their money.

Appearing on Sky Sports' Super 6 podcast in 2020, the Hartlepool-mad journalist was asked to build the perfect squad.

"Brian Clough would be one," Stelling began. "Cloughie was on some of our early shows you know, but he was so dangerous to have him on.

"You never knew what he was going to say or what kind of language he was going to say it in. He was brilliant, brilliant value."

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Up next, he opted for 13-time Premier League winner Sir Alex Ferguson and one of his biggest rivals Arsene Wenger.

"He's amazing. He knows everything that you need to know," he explained. "He's a man of the people as well and everybody respects him.

"And just to make it really interesting, sitting next to Sir Alex, I'd have to have Arsene Wenger. I think the two of them - they'd be very much like when Rodney Marsh used to sit next to Frank McClintock and Rodney would call Frank 'a dopey defender'.

"It was great because there was a clash between them, they were friends, as I think Arsene and Sir Alex are now, but they had different philosophies."

Picking the last member, Stelling admitted he had omitted his old colleagues because if he left anyone out they "would all hammer him".

So with a selection the man himself admitted was "controversial", Stelling picked a "politician, who knows his football, but is incredibly opinionated. Alastair Campbell".

"He's a massive Burnley fan," Stelling explained. "He went to a Hartlepool game with Lord Mandelson, who was president of Hartlepool at the time and Tony Blair.

"As the teams came out, Tony Blair said to Lord Mandelson: 'Which ones are Hartlepool?', and the president of the club didn't know!"