Alan Brazil Family : Wife, Parents, Children

Alan Brazil is a Scottish broadcaster and former professional footballer who played as a forward. He had a notable playing career with Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United, and also represented Scotland at the international level. 

Alan Brazil Family : Wife, Parents, Children
Alan Brazil Family : Wife, Parents, Children

Forced to retire early due to a persistent back injury, Brazil transitioned into media, initially working in television before establishing himself as a long-time presenter on Talksport radio.

Alan Brazil's Early Life and Family

Alan Brazil was born in 1959 in the Govan district of Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in a working-class family in a football-loving environment, which played a significant role in shaping his passion for the sport. From a young age, Brazil showed great promise as a footballer, and his talent was recognized early on.

Although he has kept much of his family background private, it is known that he was deeply affected by his experiences as a young footballer. He was a victim of abuse at Celtic Boys Club in the early 1970s, an ordeal that later became public during the trial of Jim Torbett in 1996. Despite these hardships, Brazil persevered and built a successful football career.

His early years in Glasgow laid the foundation for his journey in professional football, which would eventually take him to England and beyond.

Alan Brazil Wife and Kids

Alan Brazil is married to Jill Brazil. The couple has been together for many years and shares a family. They have three children, but Brazil has largely kept details about his family life private.

Alan Brazil Net Worth

Alan Brazil's estimated net worth is around $2.5 million as of 2025.His primarily income from his football career, media work, and business ventures.As a longtime presenter on talkSPORT, Brazil reportedly earns an annual salary of around £300,000 to £500,000. His earnings have been bolstered by book deals, endorsements, and his involvement in horse racing.

Professional Career

Alan Brazil began his professional football journey in 1977 with Ipswich Town, where he quickly established himself as a talented forward. During his time at Ipswich, he made 210 appearances and scored 80 goals, playing a key role in the club’s UEFA Cup-winning campaign in 1980–81.

In 1978, he had a brief loan spell with Detroit Express in the North American Soccer League (NASL), scoring 10 goals in 24 appearances.

Brazil’s goal-scoring ability saw him move to Tottenham Hotspur in 1983 for £425,000. Although he had a strong start, scoring six goals in 10 games, injuries and competition limited his impact. He was part of the squad that won the 1983–84 UEFA Cup, though he was not included in the final squad.

In 1984, he joined Manchester United for £625,000 but struggled with injuries, making 41 appearances and scoring 16 goals.

After leaving United in 1986, he had short spells at Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers, and lower-league clubs before moving to Australia’s Wollongong City in 1988. He later played for FC Baden in Switzerland before returning to the UK to play in non-league football.

International Career

Brazil earned 13 caps for Scotland, making his debut in 1980 against Poland. He was the youngest player in Scotland’s 1982 FIFA World Cup squad and scored his only international goal in a 2-0 win against Wales in 1983. However, competition from Scotland’s star forwards limited his appearances.

Broadcasting Career

After retiring from football due to a chronic back injury, Brazil transitioned into media. He started as a TV analyst with Sky Sports and worked on GMTV and Anglia TV.

In the late 1990s, he joined Talk Radio UK, which later became talkSPORT. He became the host of the popular "Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast" show, which gained a massive following. Over the years, he worked with co-hosts like Mike Parry, Ronnie Irani, Matt Holland, and Ray Parlour.

Though briefly dismissed in 2004, he returned to talkSPORT and remained a key figure. In 2020, he reduced his workload, hosting Thursday and Friday shows, with Laura Woods taking over the main slot. From 2023, he increased his hosting days to Wednesday to Friday following Jeff Stelling’s arrival at the station.