In this episode of Beyond The Pitch, Juan talks to a football pioneer in the United States. Tony Tirado was one of the first match commentators to begin the push soccer on television back in the 1960’s. He was the main commentator for the 1970 World Cup as well as in 1986 while he was with Spanish International Network, which would then become Univision.

Tirado talked about his professional football career as well as his arrival to the United States from Peru in 1960. He would have to pay for air time at a local TV station in Miami to air soccer matches. He would also talk about his experiences with some of the great stars in world football like Pelé, Cruyff and even talk about his experience attending the wedding of Diego Maradona at the world famous Luna Park in Buenos Aires in 1989.

He also discusses who he thinks is the greatest player of all time is and how the game has changed in this country. Tony also discusses the state of the game in the United States and what the establishment has failed to do to be able to make greater strides in the sport.

This interview is in Spanish and we will look to have quotes as well as eventual subtitling for these episodes.

For more information, visit him on Facebook and on his website, TonyTirado.com