Sky Sports made one of the most exciting moves in the transfer window as they brought in Peter Drury to replace Martin Tyler as the voice of their Premier League coverage. The commentator has built a reputation as the top wordsmith in the profession over his 30+ year career, after all.
Of course, the majority of that reputation, at least in recent times, has been built away from England.
After 15 years of making his name at ITV, Drury has primarily provided coverage of the world's biggest games for TV networks in America, working at both CBS Sports and NBC Sports.
Football FanCast has taken a look at Peter Drury's top commentary moments from his fantastic career:
10 Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Man United 11th September 2021, Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United
Cristiano Ronaldo's reappearance in red at Old Trafford was a massive moment in what now seems like a long, long, long time ago. In reality, it was 2021. Didn't things fall apart quickly?
It really felt like an enormous moment for Manchester United when they re-signed the superstar from Juventus. Here was an all-time great returning to the club where he truly took off in an effort to sign off on one of the most incredible club careers the sport has ever seen.
With the Portugal star's time in Turin fizzling out, an extraordinary return to the place he made his name became reality when he made a second United debut against Newcastle United in September 2021.
And in true Ronaldo style, he grabbed all the headlines, not only through his mere appearance, but through a match-defining double that spurred the Red Devils to victory.
Drury attempted to capture the feelings as Ronaldo made that return, doing so in his usual poetic style:
"18 years since that trembling teenager of touch and tease first tip-toed onto this storied stage. Now in his immaculate maturity, CR7 re-United.
"Guess who's there? Close your eyes and he never went away! Cristiano Ronaldo has stolen back the show!
"The Theatre lives its Dream! Its fantasy hero retreads the boards! A phenomenon! Hello again, Stretford End: here I am!"
You can catch his introduction here.
Ronaldo's second spell at United, in statistics:
Appearances
Goals
Assists
55
27
5
9 Vincent Kompany's bolt from the blue 6th May 2019, Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City
In a titanic tussle for the title back in 2019, Manchester City knew only perfection would stop Liverpool claiming a first league title in nearly 30 years.
The Citizens, reigning champions at the time after amassing triple figures in terms of points, eventually went within touching distance of repeating that feat 12 months later, with their 98-point haul pipping the Reds to the post.
Therefore, every point mattered. And in early May, a stubborn Leicester City side were proving difficult to break down, with City requiring a victory to ensure they went into the final day in control of their destiny.
City skipper Vincent Kompany – not exactly famed for his long-range shooting – took efforts into his own hands by unleashing a rasping 25-yard strike that ultimately led to Pep Guardiola’s side sealing a domestic treble.
And in typical fashion, Drury was on hand to narrate the dramatic moment a nervy Etihad Stadium was sent into raptures by the Belgian’s wondergoal:
“Kompany… had a look, had a hit… ohhh! Captain fantastic! A wild celebration for a goal from his wildest dreams!
“A fantasy goal for City’s fantasy footballer! A goal fit for a champion of all time!
“He merely gives thanks. Around him, tens of thousands in blue give thanks for Manchester City’s man of men!”
Kompany's honours:
Trophy
Year
Belgian Pro League
2004, 2006
FA Cup
2011, 2019
Premier League
2012, 2014, 2018, 2019
Community Shield
2013, 2019
League Cup
2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
8 Thierry Henry stuns the Bernabeu 21st February 2006, Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal
We're going all the way back to 2006 for this one as Arsenal attempted to ascend to the top of European football for the first time. They'd come awfully close, too, falling in the final to Barcelona after a heartbreaking defeat in Paris.
Indeed, Arsenal would go on to dispatch fellow European heavyweights Juventus and a talented Villarreal outfit on their way to a first-ever Champions League final.
However, the highlight of their run was surely the Gunners' victory over a star-studded Real Madrid in the first knockout round.
The Gunners would take the tie 1-0 on aggregate, with the crucial goal coming in Madrid courtesy of Thierry Henry.
A tense goalless draw at Highbury followed in what was Real Madrid’s one and only visit to the famous old ground, with Jens Lehmann’s heroics key to maintaining the north Londoners’ slender advantage.
And looking back to that decisive moment in the first leg, it was a stunning display of brilliance from Henry as he showed strength and poise to tie Real's defence in knots. Drury delivered worthy commentary to sum it all up:
“Here's Henry getting clear, it's Thierry Henry… he's scored! He's scored for Arsenal in the Bernabeu! No more, no less than they merit! Arsenal have been the thrusting force of this tie! Thierry Henry, the Gunner Galactico, it is Real Madrid nil, Arsenal one!”
Perfect.
Thierry Henry's Arsenal career in statistics:
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Trophies
377
228
103
7
7 Sergio Agüero's title-winner 13th May 2012, Manchester City 3-2 Queens Park Rangers
The final day of the 2011/12 season saw the Citizens in need of a victory against relegation-threatened QPR to secure their first-ever Premier League title.
Though, the script was ripped into shreds when Jamie Mackie put the visitors 2-1 up in the second half, sinking Roberto Mancini's side to second, behind bitter rivals Manchester United.
Edin Dzeko levelled in the 92nd minute and provided the hosts with a lifeline but still a mountain to climb as the pulsating encounter edged closer to the full-time whistle.
But, of course, Sergio Agüero stepped up in the fifth minute of stoppage, lashing home the title-winner to send the Etihad Stadium into bedlem.
Read more: 10 most famous Manchester City players in history
Martin Tyler's commentary of the moment perhaps stole much of Drury's limelight, but nonetheless, the football poet produced a memorable sequence.
“Drama of the ultimate type! Tears of distress turn to tears of unbridled joy! It just does not get better than this. It will never get better than this in blue.
“The blue moon has risen. Just like a dream in their hearts. Where does football go from here?”
Agüero's 2011/12 season, in numbers:
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Trophies
48
30
12
1
6 Scott McTominay's derby-day goal 8th March 2020, Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City
Manchester United welcomed their noisy neighbours Manchester City, who were the reigning Premier League champions having amassed a remarkable 99 points the season prior.
Though, at the time the Citizens were some way off the summit of the table, as Liverpool raced away 25 points clear in the lead. Even still, City were 15 points ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side, so heading into the derby, they were certainly the favoured outfit.
But in the 30th minute, Ederson allowed Anthony Martial's shot to squirm underneath his hands, putting the hosts ahead before Scott McTominay netted a 40-yard wondergoal in stoppage time to make sure of the three points.
Here's how Drury painted the picture:
"A red-Letter day, Scott McTominay, Ederson stay to hide, it's Solskjær's day to look to paradise and say ‘I've done a double over the neighbours.’"
McTominay's United career so far, in numbers:
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Trophies
218
22
5
1
5 Liverpool utopia 5th March 2023, Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United
The Reds did indeed defeat their bitter rivals 7-0, that did happen, it wasn't a dream. Perhaps even more remarkably, they only led 1-0 at half-time.
United's second-half capitulation saw Liverpool relentlessly punish error after error, netting six times, with Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah all scoring a brace.
Roberto Firmino added the seventh with two minutes of normal time remaining before Drury perfectly captured the unprecedented scenes:
“Liverpool utopia. An unimaginable zenith. Inexplicable, illogical, irrational, scarcely digestible, barely conceivable.
“A story at Anfield of restored faith. Of restored verve. Restored appetite. That is Liverpool as you remember them and that is Manchester United as they’d rather forget.”
Five of Liverpool's biggest Premier League wins over Manchester United:
Scoreline
Date
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool
16th March 2014
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool
14th March 2009
Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United
19th April 2022
Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool
24th October 2021
Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United
5th March 2023
4 Saka's poise 9th October 2022, Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool
Bukayo Saka's 76th-minute penalty settled the pulsating affair, as the Gunners defeated Liverpool 3-2 and regained their spot at the top of the league table.
As Saka stepped up to take the spot kick, much of the focus was centralised around his miss in the EURO 2020 final shootout against Italy and whether he could bury those demons, here.
Drury built up the occasion fabulously, commending his bravery and the Gunners golden boy proceeded to confidently stroke the ball home before wheeling away in elation.
Here's how Dury narrated the pressure penalty:
"Now this is one brave boy. Bukayo Saka. Because this is one pressure penalty. He has experienced pressure from the spot like few others.
"He has suffered for that pressure, but now the Emirates braces itself for perhaps a pivotal kick of the football.
“These are broad shoulders. This is courage. A sporting moment in time. Bukayo Saka. Such poise! Such noise!”
Saka's 2022/23 season, in numbers:
Appearances
Goals
Assists
48
15
11
3 Wayne Rooney's moment of magic 12th February 2011, Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City
Wayne Rooney produced some incredible moments throughout his glittering career, but one does manage to stand out amongst them all.
He may have announced himself with his long-range rocket against Arsenal as an Everton teenager back in 2002, while his thunderbolt volley against Newcastle nearly three years later still lives long in the memory.
His later career had some fine strikes, too – a superb strike from just inside the West Ham United half showed his undying class, while he repeated the trick of sorts against the Hammers by drilling in a superb 59-yarder during his second Everton spell.
However, that bicycle kick during the Manchester derby in February 2011 is an all-time Premier League moment – even if he quite clearly shinned it.
Read more: Ranking the 10 best goals not to win the Puskas Award
It was an extraordinary hit late on in a clash that secured a massive result in the title race – one that United would go on to win.
With Nani’s opener cancelled out by Edin Dzeko’s deflected effort, it was up to Rooney to settle things, and his goal for the ages ensured United maintained their four-point lead at the top with 12 games to play.
And as special as the strike was, Drury's commentary for the strike was nearly as good, too, as he tried to capture the magnitude:
"Rooney! Oh, wonderful! What a goal! And what a time, in what a place! What a player! Wayne Rooney, out of this world! 2-1 United!"
Wayne Rooney's career statistics:
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Trophies
England
120
53
21
0
Manchester United
559
253
145
17
Everton
117
28
8
0
D.C. United
52
25
14
0
Derby County
35
7
3
0
2 History for South Africa 11th June 2010, South Africa 1-1 Mexico
The 2010 World Cup might primarily be remembered for a very dull brand of football played to the sound of bored bees, but the opener delivered a truly historic moment.
South Africa, after all, were the first African nation to ever host the tournament as they kicked it off against Mexico in June 2010.
They have not featured on the global stage since their home World Cup, but there were certainly moments to savour.
Alongside the weight of being the continent’s first World Cup hosts, they also beat an albeit out-of-sorts France as the former world champions completely crumbled, even finishing below their unfancied opponents in the group.
Bafana Bafana were also unfortunate to exit the tournament by virtue of goal difference.
Nevertheless, they will always have one of the tournament’s most iconic strikes to their name, and despite not holding on for victory on opening night, their opener was undoubtedly one of the goals of the finals.
You can't really overstate how enormous that was for the continent, let alone the country. So when Siphiwe Tshabalala put the hosts ahead with the tournament’s first goal, emotion completely took over the game.
Drury did his best to capture that on commentary, with a call that summed up just how special the moment was. He even later proclaimed the match to be his favourite of his career:
"It's Tshabalala… Goal Bafana Bafana! Goal for South Africa! Goal for all Africa! Jambulila, rejoice! Bafana Bafana have popped the first cork of their day of days!"
2010 World Cup Group A table:
#
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Points
1
Uruguay
3
2
1
0
4
0
4
7
2
Mexico
3
1
1
1
3
2
1
4
3
South Africa
3
1
1
1
3
5
-2
4
4
France
3
0
1
2
1
4
-3
1
1 The Greek God in Rome 10th April 2018, Roma 3-0 Barcelona
No matter what your opinion is of Drury's commentary, there's no question that his call of Kostas Manolas' goal against Barcelona in 2018 was a turning point in the commentator's career.
His description of one of the Champions League's most incredible moments of recent years catapulted him into the minds of football fans across the world.
Of course, the conditions were perfect. Barcelona had beaten Roma 3-1 in Catalonia and looked certain to progress. The Italians had other ideas, however, and produced a sensational comeback to win 3-0 at home.
Edin Dzeko opened the scoring early on at the Stadio Olimpico, before a Daniele De Rossi penalty just before the hour mark had Roma threatening to complete an improbable comeback, as an away-goals victory was suddenly within their grasp.
And Greek centre-back Manolas struck from a corner with around 10 minutes remaining to send his side through to the semi-finals at Lionel Messi and co.’s expense.
Drury practically stole the limelight for himself, however, such was his description of the events:
"Roma have risen from their ruins! Manolas, the Greek God in Rome! The unthinkable unfolds before our eyes!
"This was not meant to happen, this could not happen – this is happening!"
The commentary went viral and Drury has been in demand ever since.
Roma's 2017/18 Champions League results:
Opponent
H/A
Round
Scoreline
Atletico Madrid
H
Group Stages
0-0
Qarabag FK
A
Group Stages
1-2
Chelsea
A
Group Stages
3-3
Chelsea
H
Group Stages
3-0
Atletico Madrid
A
Group Stages
2-0
Qarabag FK
H
Group Stages
1-0
Shakhtar Donetsk
A
Round of 16 (1st Leg)
2-1
Shakhtar Donetsk
H
Round of 16 (2nd Leg)
1-0
Barcelona
A
Quarter-finals
4-1
Barcelona
H
Quarter-finals
3-0
Liverpool
A
Semi-finals
5-2
Liverpool
H
Semi-finals
4-2
