Ryan Tubridy said Jack Charlton kicked off a “reawakening” in Ireland in the 1990s and described his death as the “end of an era”.
In a tribute to the late football legend, Tubs dubbed the late former Republic Of Ireland manager a “wonderful figure”.
He told his listeners on RTE said: “He was a remarkable figure in Irish sporting history but a bit more than that.
“It’s just amazing the passage of time and how things can just be forgotten.
“We of course went to a full Reeling In The Years conversation. I think everyone knew every player on that team.
“That era just ushered in a sense of colour to a grey world and you could see the country waking up from some class of sleep.
“Mary Robinson was elected president and the Bishop Casey story was unfolding.
“There were peace talks happening not too long after that.
“There was a sense of a reawakening of the country but it kind of kicked off with the Irish soccer team beating England.”
Tubridy added how he was moved that Jack enjoyed angling in Ireland.
He said: “I love the fact he was a fisherman as well.
“A keen fisherman and just dying to get back to the waters, whether it was the rivers or lakes of Ireland, that’s where he wanted to be.”
“He gave us so much to cheer about and laugh about and even over the weekend to reminisce.
“Whenever we play footage of that time, you still want to jump up and punch the air. He was a wonderful figure. May he rest in peace.”
