Emma Hayes revealed as UK’s favourite Euro 2020 TV pundit

Emma Hayes has emerged as the UK’s favourite football pundit during Euro 2020, new research has revealed.

The Chelsea manager was hired by ITV to analyse matches from the studio during the tournament alongside World Cup and Premier League winners, but has proved more popular among TV viewers.

OLBG’s Commentator Rankings has analysed tweets sent about each pundit, commentator, co-commentator and presenter from ITV and the BBC since the start of Euro 2020 to reveal who have been the most/least popular during the tournament and what the UK public’s dream line-up would be and how it has changed since the start of the tournament.

Hayes’ tactical insight puts her in top spot among pundits at Euro 2020 on UK TV among the 28 pundits studied, while controversial ex-referee Peter Walton was actually the third-most tweeted about ‘expert’ in the group stages – though overall he is the fourth most unpopular overall, appearing at 25th on the list.

Rob Earnshaw is in second place having appeared both on TV and the radio while Nadia Nadim is in third ahead of Jurgen Klinsmann, Nigel de Jong and Micah Richards – who was the nation’s favourite prior to the tournament.

Unsurprisingly Ally McCoist has held onto his spot as the UKs favourite co-commentator since the start of Euro 2020 along with lead commentator Clive Tyldesley thanks to their entertaining performances.

Pat Nevin, a regular to BBC Radio 5Live listeners, has been the second most popular co-commentator throughout while Charlie Adam completes a Scottish top three and Chris Waddle comes fourth as he continues to prove popular for his takes during England matches.

Tyldesley was replaced as ITV’s lead commentator in 2020 by Sam Matterface and unsurprisingly he remains more popular with the UK public, with more than twice as many tweets about the veteran than his replacement, with a much higher positive sentiment rating.

Assuming that each broadcast features one presenter, one commentator and co-commentator alongside three pundits in the studio, Commentator Rankings can reveal the UK’s favourite line-up from the tournament so far:

Presenter: Gabby Logan (BBC)

Commentator/co-commentator: Clive Tyldesley (ITV) and Ally McCoist (ITV)

Pundits: Emma Hayes (ITV), Rob Earnshaw (ITV) and Nadia Nadim (ITV)