ITV’S latest addition to their Euro 2024 coverage is the daughter of a former Manchester United assistant manager.
Pien Meulensteen, daughter of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s former right-hand-man Rene, will be part of ITV’s commentary team out in Germany this summer.
The 27-year-old was announced as part of ITV’s broadcasting team for the highly anticipated tournament.
She will join Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson and Joe Speight as the lead commentators live from the stadiums.
Pien is no stranger to getting behind the mic with the Dutch-born journalist working for Sky Sports, DAZN, Amazon Prime and the Premier League in the past.
Growing up in England to Dutch parents means Pien is able to speak fluently in both English and Dutch.
The impressive talent has allowed her to work for Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport in the past too.
This summer won’t be her first major tournament either, as she worked for the BBC in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.
Pien studied broadcast journalism at Salford University and graduated with first class honours.
Her incredible rise was recognised last year when she was named as the “One to Watch” at the 2023 Sports Journalism Awards.
Here's how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
Football has always been in her blood thanks to her coaching icon father Rene Meulensteen.
Rene had two spells as a coach at Manchester United, initially working as the reserve team manager between 2001 and 2006.
He later became Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant manager, a position he held for five years from 2008 until 2013 when Fergie retired.
During that period he helped the Red Devils achieve eight major trophies, including four Premier League titles and one Champions League.
After leaving the club he tried his hand at management himself with brief spells as the boss at Fulham, Maccabi Haifa and Anzhi Makhachkala.
He is now the assistant manager for the Australian national team where he has been assistant to Graham Arnold since 2018.
