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Football commentator John Motson has passed away at the age of 77.
His iconic voice graced the airwaves for 50 years and the BBC legend racked up almost 2,500 games behind the microphone.
A statement from the greats family confirmed: “It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today.”
Motson, who was given an OBE for services to sports broadcasting in 2001, began his career as a reporter for the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph and took a full-time job at the Beeb in 1968.
He worked for Match of the Day from 1971 to 2018 and earned his big break when covering Hereford’s iconic FA Cup triumph over Newcastle.
The man affectionately known as Motty oversaw 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and a staggering 29 FA Cup finals, bringing some of football’s most memorable moments to fans.
He was in the commentary box for Diego Maradona’s superb effort against Belgium as Argentina earned a spot in the 1986 World Cup final and famously quipped “the crazy Gang has beaten the Culture Club” after Wimbledon stunned Liverpool to lift the FA Cup in 1988.
Paul Gascoigne’s solo effort against Scotland in 1996 and England’s famous 5-1 victory over Germany were also among the highlights of a storied career.
His final game for the BBC was a clash between Crystal Palace and West Brom in 2018, where he was cheered by fans after the game and presented a framed programme and crystal microphone by then Eagles boss Roy Hodgson.
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