Australian football has lost its most recognisable voice today, with iconic SBS broadcaster Les Murray passing away after a battle with illness. He was 71.
Murray was a much-loved part of the football coverage on SBS, after originally starting at the TV station as a Hungarian subtitle writer in 1980. Just six years later, he was hosting the network’s coverage of the 1986 World Cup, and such was his impact on the sport in Australia that he came to be known as ‘Mr Football’.
“No one better embodied what SBS represents than Les Murray. From humble refugee origins, he became one Australia’s most recognised and loved sporting identities,” said Michael Ebeid, SBS’s managing director.
“Not just a football icon, but a great Australian story and an inspiration to many, to say that his contribution to SBS and to football was enormous, doesn’t do it justice. This is a devastating loss for all of us at SBS. Our thoughts are with his family and all that loved him.”
Murray’s iconic lilt – a product of his Hungarian upbringing – became synonymous with football in Australia in the three and a half decades he spent involved in broadcasting the sport. His extremely knowledgeable presentation of SBS’s football programming, combined with his sense of humour, made him one of the most-loved broadcasters not just to football fans, but to all sports fans around the country.
Born in 1945 as László Ürge in Budapest, Murray originally arrived in Australia as a refugee in 1956, settling in Wollongong. He began working as a journalist in the 1970s before joining SBS in the following decade.
Murray’s accolades are plentiful; in addition to being an FFA Hall of Fame inductee, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006. He also enjoyed a stint as a member of FIFA’s ethics committee, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Sports Journalism in 2009 at the Australian Sports Commission Media Awards.
SBS released a statement following Murray’s death, hailing the legacy he left behind.
“SBS is sad to advise that earlier today Les Murray passed away after a long period of illness.
“Les will be remembered not just for his 35-year contribution to football in Australia, but for being a much-loved colleague, mentor and friend who has left a unique legacy.
“To say he will be sorely missed is an understatement.
“Many Australians know Les as Mr Football, who began working with SBS when it launched as a television broadcaster in 1980. His role went far beyond being a football commentator.
“The growth, popularity and success of football in Australia today is absolutely a reflection of his passion and advocacy for the game that he loved.
“We pass on our deepest sympathies to his family, including his partner Maria and his daughters Tania and Natalie.
“They ask that their privacy is respected during this difficult time.”
Rudi
Guest
Fair well great man! Thank you for leaving a great legacy for football in Australia. Vale Les Murray
Nick Symonds
Guest
During the time he was at SBS viewership numbers grew from just a few thousand when he first started to 2 million for Italia '90 and on to 11 million for the last World Cup. In no small part due to his efforts and passion the "world game" has gone from obscurity to being a mainstream sport in Australia. Quite a legacy he leaves. Viva fútbol. Viva el juego del mundo.
Dean Webster
Guest
Just heard the news, and I'm surprised by my depth of feeling over this. I loved the sport before I heard of Les Murray and Johnny Warren, but they opened my eyes to the world. Their passion was my passion and they showed a teenager from a Rugby League dominated Queensland town that it was OK to like football. My life would be poorer and vastly different for not having had Les in it. Thank you Les.
Caltex TEN & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
RIP, Les, and thank you for you unrelenting belief and service for Australian Football.
jamesb
Guest
Australia has lost a good one today. He brought football knowledge to Australia, and we will always be thankful for that. Farewell László Ürge ⚽️
Neil
Guest
This is very sad.
Midfielder
Guest
Vale Overseas an just caught up along with JW kept the flag flying in the dark years. Vale an Respect
pauli
Guest
OK everyone, you all know what to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrOLGifnMJk Just to hear his voice again. :..(
TheVolley
Guest
RIP Les. Thank you for all your efforts, contributions and unwavering faith in Australian football.
John From Melbourne
Guest
A man who always did the best for his sport. He will be sadly missed. Goodbye Mr Soccer.
Bondy
Guest
A very sad day .. Les created so many new football fans through his broadcasts .. The game is in far greater shape now from when Les first started ,he will be looking down on football in Australia with a smile from now on ...
Farewell
Guest
Les Murray 2014: 'The mission was not to simply build or promote football, but rather to enrich Australia through the medium of football. To bring our country to being a true citizen of the world and converse with it in the only true universal language.' Ambitious mission, brilliantly executed. RIP Les Murray - a terrible loss.
13th Man
Guest
Another one of Australia's great commentators gone too soon. RIP Les Murray.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Farewell Les Murray. Thoughts are with his family and friends, who should be comforted by the fact that he will be so fondly remembered.
TK
Guest
Well they'd better play football wherever Les has gone to now so he can carry on the marvellous contribution he made to the sport during his time. Loved Les' work and as somebody noted above he was a massive influence and source of info on SBS well before the internet evolved. Vale Les Murray and condolences to his family.
Lionheart
Guest
Sad news. Vale Les Murray.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Sad news indeed. He was a wonderful commentator and a very decent man.
punter
Guest
Thank you Les, you were one of the great ones.
Newie
Guest
Respect. RIP one of the great football proponents in modern Australia. It's a sad day.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
Thank you Les for all that you have done for football in Australia. Your last ‘sign off’ speech from the Brazil 2014 World Cup was a be-fitting a man who has given so much to the game, and yet instill’s the very reason why we enjoyed listening into your coverage. Having been over in Brazil during the world cup, and then returning home before the tournament ended, simple words cannot do justice the passion, excitement and buzz that occurred in Brazil throughout those 6 weeks. It was your last words after 30+ years of broadcasting, and yet, here I was, nodding to the everything you said and the elegance of the way that you said it. You could have mentioned other things, and yet, you spoke all about the "joy" that football brings, to you, to Brazil, to Australia, to the world. Your last words on that broadcast were “thank you for letting me be your acquaintance”. No Les, we thank you “for letting us be your acquaintance”. Muito obrigado. Vale. Les Murray.