John Motson, the legendary BBC soccer commentator, has died aged 77, the broadcaster has stated.
Motson, popularly generally known as “Motty”, had an illustrious 50-year profession with the BBC, working with the broadcaster’s flagship soccer highlights present, Match of the Day, since 1971.
According to the BBC, he commentated on over 2,500 televised video games and coated 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for BBC Sport.
Revered throughout the sport, the commentator, typically seen beside the pitch pre-game with a microphone and in his trademark sheepskin coat, was awarded an OBE for providers to sports activities broadcasting in 2001.
Motson, who’s survived by his spouse Anne and son Frederick, hung up his microphone and retired from the BBC in 2018, saying “I am going out on a high”.
‘An absolute legend of the sport’
Figures all through the sport paid tribute to the commentator, together with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
In a submit on Twitter, he wrote: “RIP John Motson. An absolute Legend of the game.
“So many people grew up listening to this man describing the motion and targets on MOTD and cup finals. Sad loss.”
Former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker also posted a tribute, writing: “Deeply saddened to listen to that John Motson has died.
“A quite brilliant commentator and the voice of football in this country for generations.
“He’ll be very a lot missed. RIP Motty.”
Fellow commentator, Clive Tyldesley, who worked alongside Motson at BBC Sport in the 1990s, wrote: “As an adolescent I simply needed to be John Motson. Nobody else. Terribly unhappy.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “John Motson was the voice of a footballing era – steering us by the twists and turns of FA Cup runs, the highs and lows of World Cups and, in fact, Saturday nights on Match of the Day.
“Like all the greats behind the mic, John had the right words, at the right time, for all the big moments.
“He will rightly be remembered as a legendary determine in British sports activities broadcasting, revered by these within the recreation, liked by followers and an inspiration to those that adopted him within the commentary field.”
The FA also paid tribute, describing him as the voice of football.
In a post on Twitter, the organisation said: “We are very unhappy to listen to that John Motson has handed away.
“His iconic voice will always be synonymous with football. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP, Motty.”
From Salford to Seoul
Born in Salford in July 1945 to a Methodist minister father, Motson started his profession with stints on the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph.
He joined the BBC full-time as a sports activities presenter for Radio 2 in 1968, having labored at first as a freelancer for BBC Radio Sheffield.
His commentary on Ronnie Radford’s well-known long-range strike which helped non-League Hereford knock top-flight Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972 noticed him take prime billing on Match of the Day.
“Oh what a goal!” declared Motson after Radford’s strike.
“Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford! And the crowd are on the pitch. What a tremendous shot by Ronnie Radford.”
His lengthy profession took in two Olympic Games and Wimbledon’s memorable 1988 FA Cup ultimate triumph in opposition to Liverpool at Wembley because the Crazy Gang beat the Culture Club.
Motty’s trademark sheepskin coat
His well-known sheepskin coat grew to become virtually as iconic as his voice – although it was not a development he hoped to set when he first wore it to a match in 1990.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he stated: “I didn’t set out to make the sheepskin coat anything special, but it just happened when I was at Wycombe in 1990 and the snow came down.
“I appeared forlorn and it simply caught from then on.
He stated that he had worn 10 sheepskin coats all through his profession, including: “I have always had them made to measure. Even when it is warm people ask where the coat is.
“I’ve at all times paid for my very own. People assume the BBC pay for them however they do not.”
Motson commentated on 10 World Cups across the world, including the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea, though his last live television broadcast was the Euro 2008 final.
He continued to lend his voice to the BBC’s football highlights, including Match of the Day.
Hanging up the microphone
Motson retired from the BBC at the end of the 2017-18 Premier League season, with his final game for Match of the Day being Crystal Palace versus West Bromwich Albion in 2018.
Speaking to the broadcaster ahead of his retirement, he said: “I’ll miss the second of pleasure and adrenaline once they kick off, notably at 3pm on a Saturday which I’ve been doing for 50 years.
“Perhaps I won’t miss so much the hassle of preparing for the games – checking and re-checking facts – and the travelling.
“All the preparation is kind of demanding on the commentator, notably on the Thursday and Friday of each week.
“I’ll miss the friendship and connection and contact with lots of people both in broadcasting and the football world.”
Motson later got here out of retirement to supply commentary for the industrial radio station, talkSPORT.
Outside of soccer, Motson lived in Buckinghamshire with spouse, Anne.
The couple, who had one son collectively, Frederick, had been married for greater than 45 years.
Source: information.sky.com”