The end of Euro 2004 last night saw the curtain come down on Des Lynam's five-year stint with ITV. And Mr Smooth was on song right from the start of the channel's coverage of the showpiece match between Portugal and Greece. Accompanied by pundits Sir Bobby Robson, Terry Venables and Ally McCoist he launched into trademark style when describing the host nation's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. "He's bold, he's brash, he's Brazilian - he's big Phil, " enthused Lynam. The king of the quips found himself on the receiving end for a change. "We will be having your closing ceremony in the bar afterwards," chipped in commentator Clive Tyldesley. Lynam left his farewell note brief and to the point after Greece had secured a famous victory. "Gentleman we have to go, thank you very much," he said. "I hope you have enjoyed it all ," he said. "Thank you very much for being with us. It is our business to do pleasure with you and personally my privilege." Lynam joined ITV in 1999 after 30 years with the BBC. He threw in a secure job in insurance to freelance in sports radio and soon flew through a BBC audition. Not only did his suave tones win over the governors he also correctly answered 39 out of 40 sports questions. Lynam steadily rose through radio and television to become a Grandstand presenter in 1978. In 1984, the year of the Olympics, David Coleman left the BBC and Lynam became the face of BBC Sport. He was so adept that in 1996 viewers voted him top presenter of all time in a poll marking 60 years of BBC television. With his dry wit and relaxed approach, he developed a cult following. Warwick University students went as far as re-naming the Nelson Mandela bar the Des Lynam Lounge. As he stated recently on the BBC'S Jonathan Ross programme, the future is unclear. "I go freelance in July for the first time in 34 years. Back at the BBC? It's possible ... who knows?" he said. | 
