Les Murray (broadcaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Les Murray
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| Born |
László Ürge
5 November 1945 Pápa, Kingdom of Hungary
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| Died | 31 July 2017 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | Hungarian Australian |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, sports journalist, analyst |
| Years active | 1971–2014 |
| Children | 2 |
Les James Murray (born László Ürge on 5 November 1945 – died 31 July 2017) was a famous Australian sports journalist. He was born in Hungary. Les Murray was best known as a soccer broadcaster and analyst. He hosted The World Game on SBS television. He retired in July 2014. Les Murray was also added to the FFA's Football Hall of Fame.
As a top TV presenter for football, Les Murray helped make the sport more popular in Australia. This started in the 1980s. He even created the phrase "the world game". This phrase later became the name of SBS's football show.
Contents
Early Life and New Home
Les Murray was born as László Ürge in Pápa, Hungary. His parents were József and Erzsébet Ürge. In 1957, his family moved to Australia. They came as part of a special program for Hungarian refugees. After staying at a migrant camp, they settled in Wollongong, New South Wales.
He went to Berkeley High School for his education. Les decided to change his name to Les Murray. His original name, Ürge, was hard for people outside Hungary to say. His father suggested "Murray" because it sounded similar to a Hungarian word.
A Career in Football
Les Murray loved football from a young age. His passion grew after watching a replay of the 1960 European Cup Final. He started working as a journalist in 1971. Before that, he was even the lead singer in a small rock band called 'The Rubber Band'. In 1977, he joined Network Ten as a commentator. This is when he officially changed his name to Les Murray.
In 1980, Les Murray moved to SBS. He first worked on Hungarian language subtitles. But soon, he began covering football. He became the main host for SBS's football coverage. This included many World Cup tournaments from 1986 to 2014. He also covered Australia's World Cup Qualifiers.
Les Murray hosted several SBS sports programs. These included On the Ball and The World Game. He was given the Member of the Order of Australia award in 2006. This was for his great contributions to football.
In 2006, Les Murray stepped down as SBS's Sports Director. He wanted to focus more on his role as the main face of SBS Sport. He was also a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee. In 2009, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Sports Commission Media Awards.
In June 2014, Les Murray announced his retirement. He stopped being the chief football commentator for SBS after the FIFA World Cup. However, he still made guest appearances on SBS. In 2021, after his death, he was added to the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour.
Family Life
Les Murray was married to Eva. They had two daughters named Natalie and Tania. Later, they divorced. He then had a long-term relationship with his partner, Maria.
His Lasting Impact
Les Murray passed away on 31 July 2017 in Sydney. He was 71 years old and had been battling a cancer-related illness. A special state funeral was held for him at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.
SBS created the Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition. This award honors former refugees who help others understand the challenges faced by displaced people. Craig Foster, a fellow football expert, spoke at Murray's funeral. He said that Les believed Australia could become a great football nation and even win the FIFA World Cup.
Images for kids
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Les Murray (right) at a soccer match in 2011.
