# Alan Brazil
**Alan Brazil** (full name Alan Bernard Brazil, born 1959 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish broadcaster and former footballer who played as a forward, most notably for Ipswich Town, and has hosted the talkSPORT [Breakfast](https://www.edgepedia.org/breakfast) show since 2000.[1](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil) • [2](https://icdb.tv/stats/1819/Alan-Brazil) • [3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/) • [4](https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/alan-brazil) As a player he won the 1981 UEFA Cup with Ipswich Town under [Bobby Robson](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-robson) and represented Scotland at the 1982 World Cup; a back injury ended his playing career at 27, after which he moved into radio and has spent over 25 years with talkSPORT.[5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/) • [3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959, Glasgow, Scotland; 183 cm; forward[1](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil) |
| Ipswich Town | 70 goals in 154 games (GQ Brasil); 1981 UEFA Cup winner; top-flight runners-up two seasons running[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) • [7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) |
| 1982 World Cup | 2 Scotland appearances, 1 start, 72 minutes, no goals; started the 5-2 win over New Zealand on his 23rd birthday[1](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil) • [7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) |
| Later clubs | Tottenham Hotspur (£425,000, 1983), Manchester United (1984), Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers, FC Baden; retired at 27[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) • [6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) |
| Broadcasting | talkSPORT Breakfast, 6am-10am, joined 2000; over 25 years with the station[3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/) |
| Co-presenters | Gabby Agbonlahor (Wednesdays) and Ray Parlour (Fridays) on his 2025 return[3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/) |
| Outside radio | Alan Brazil Racing Club (2003, 200-strong Newmarket syndicate); 'Alan Brazil's Nuts' snack brand; two books[8](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/03/sportsrights.media) • [6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) |
## Early life
Brazil was brought up in Glasgow, where schoolmates nicknamed him "Pele".[5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/) He began his professional career at Ipswich Town.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html)
## Club career
**Ipswich Town.** Under manager Bobby Robson, Brazil was part of the Ipswich side that won the 1981 UEFA Cup, beating teams featuring [Michel Platini](https://www.edgepedia.org/michel-platini), Antonin Panenka and [Zbigniew Boniek](https://www.edgepedia.org/zbigniew-boniek) along the way; he was 21 during that run.[5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/) • [7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) Ipswich finished top-flight runners-up in two consecutive seasons, and in 1981/82 Brazil contended for the Golden Boot, finishing four goals behind [Kevin Keegan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-keegan). Brazil noted that Keegan scored seven penalties that season while he did not take Ipswich's.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) His most famous single performance came in 1982, when Southampton arrived at Portman Road top of the league and Ipswich won 5-2 with Brazil scoring all five goals.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/23/smalltalk.sportinterviews) GQ Brasil records his Ipswich total as 70 goals in 154 games.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html)
**Later clubs.** Tottenham Hotspur signed him for £425,000 in 1983, and he scored six goals in the last 12 games of the 1982/83 campaign, helping Spurs qualify for the UEFA Cup, which they went on to win.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) Manchester United took him in 1984, but by then he was slowed by an undiagnosed back condition.[5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/) Short spells at Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers followed, and he finished his playing career at the Swiss club FC Baden.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) • [6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html)
**Injury and retirement.** Years of groin, back and hamstring trouble culminated in a slipped spinal disc that went undiagnosed at the time; Brazil said that a modern MRI scan would have detected it immediately, but in that era doctors were guessing. He was done as a player by age 27.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) • [5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/)
## International career
Brazil played for Scotland at the 1982 World Cup.[1](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil) He started the opening match against New Zealand alongside [Kenny Dalglish](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenny-dalglish) on his 23rd birthday, 1982, a game Scotland won 5-2; he named it the highlight of his career even though he did not score.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/23/smalltalk.sportinterviews) Across the tournament he made 2 appearances, 1 of them a start, for a total of 72 minutes, without scoring, as Scotland exited in the first round.[1](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil) Scotland's group campaign brought a 5-2 win over New Zealand, a 2-2 draw with the USSR and a 4-1 defeat to Brazil.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) He scored one goal in total for Scotland.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html)
## Transition to broadcasting
After retiring at 27, Brazil worked in the [City of London](https://www.edgepedia.org/city-of-london), then dabbled in local radio and did a stint as a co-commentator with Sky before being offered the breakfast show on the fledgling talkSPORT in 2000.[5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/) He had moved into media presentation initially on television before settling into radio.[2](https://icdb.tv/stats/1819/Alan-Brazil) His on-air style is famously low-preparation: he is renowned for never arriving earlier than two minutes before he is due on air.[5](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/)
## The Breakfast show
The show runs live on air from 6am to 10am on weekdays.[3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/) • [8](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/03/sportsrights.media) By 2004 he was reportedly talkSPORT's most popular and best paid presenter, earning more than £200,000 a year.[8](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/03/sportsrights.media) He has spent over 25 years with the station, having first joined the Breakfast show in 2000.[3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/) GQ Brasil dates his hosting of "Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast" from 2001.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html)
## What has changed since 2023
In 2025 Brazil stepped away from the Breakfast show for several weeks after undergoing a liver transplant operation, described as life-saving surgery. On his return he co-presented the 6am-10am show with Gabby Agbonlahor on Wednesdays and [Ray Parlour](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-parlour) on Fridays.[3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/) He has also continued occasional co-commentary work; ICDb credits him with co-commentating England v Scotland for STV in 2013 and Chelsea v Manchester United in the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) for talkSPORT in 2019.[2](https://icdb.tv/stats/1819/Alan-Brazil)
## By the numbers
The quantified core of his career: 70 goals in 154 Ipswich games per GQ Brasil.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) In 1981/82 he finished four Golden Boot goals behind Kevin Keegan, who benefited from seven penalties.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) His World Cup record is 2 appearances and 72 minutes with no goals, and his Scotland total includes one goal.[1](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil) • [6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) His £425,000 move to [Tottenham](https://www.edgepedia.org/tottenham) in 1983 and retirement at 27 bracket a playing career cut short by injury.[7](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/) Against that, his broadcasting tenure of over 25 years at one station, on a 6am-10am shift, stands as his longest professional record.[3](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/)
## Outside radio
A fan of horse racing, Brazil founded the Alan Brazil Racing Club in 2003, a 200-strong syndicate keeping thoroughbreds in [Newmarket](https://www.edgepedia.org/newmarket) under green-and-white hoop colors.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) • [8](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/03/sportsrights.media) He has published two books, in 2006 and 2007, and created the snack brand 'Alan Brazil's Nuts', a pun on brazil nuts.[6](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html) Penguin's author page describes him as a Scottish broadcasting legend and former forward for Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Scotland who retired through a recurring back injury.[4](https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/alan-brazil)
## References
1. [Alan Brazil Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more, FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/38f5fa45/Alan-Brazil)
2. [Alan Brazil - Commentator Profile & Stats, ICDb](https://icdb.tv/stats/1819/Alan-Brazil)
3. [Alan Brazil return date to talkSPORT Breakfast show confirmed, talkSPORT (2025)](https://talksport.com/football/4488153/alan-brazil-breakfast-show-return-date-confirmed/)
4. [Alan Brazil, Penguin Books Australia author page](https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/alan-brazil)
5. [Alan Brazil interview: 'The drink was our bond - players now just don't have that', The Telegraph (2020)](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/11/23/alan-brazil-interview-drink-bond-players-now-just-dont-have/)
6. [Alan Brazil, o ex-jogador escocês que se tornou radialista na Grã-Bretanha, GQ Brasil (2013)](https://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/07/alan-brazil-o-ex-jogador-escoces-que-se-tornou-radialista-na-gra-bretanha.html)
7. [Alan Brazil 'never missed' for Sir Bobby Robson, conquered Europe with Ipswich and took on the world with Kenny Dalglish before Tottenham and Man United struggle, talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/football/836364/alan-brazil-sir-bobby-europe-ipswich-dalglish-tottenham-man-united/)
8. [Look who's talking, The Guardian (2004)](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/03/sportsrights.media)
9. [Alan Brazil interview, The Guardian Small Talk (2005)](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/23/smalltalk.sportinterviews)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Broadcasting and journalism › Broadcast organizations and stations › Broadcasters as people › Sports announcers and team broadcasters › Association football (soccer) commentators*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license