John Motson, a legendary commentator with the BBC for 50 years, passed away at the age of 77. Before leaving BBC Sport in 2018, Motson covered 29 FA Cup finals, 10 European Championships, and 10 World Cups.
His nickname was “Motty,” and he had been a Match of the Day employee since 1971. He began his career as a reporter for the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph. He is the son of a Methodist minister.
Who was John Motson?
The famed English football commentator John Walker Motson, better known as “Motty,” passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 77. Motson began his playing career at Dulwich Hamlet FC before changing careers in 1971 to work for the BBC as a television commentator. He offered radio and television analysis for more than 2000 games over the course of his distinguished career.
From the late 1970s through 2008, Motson dominated the BBC’s football commentary lineup, with the exception of a brief spell in the 1990s when his friend and opponent Barry Davies was chosen to commentate on two FA Cup finals, the 1994 World Cup final, and England vs. Germany UEFA Euro 1996 semifinal.
Motson stopped commentating on live television in 2008, but he continued to do so for Match of the Day highlights and BBC Radio 5 Live. He also contributed his broadcasting talents to CBeebies’ Footy Pups.
After providing commentary for 10 FIFA World Cups, 10 UEFA European Championships, and 29 FA Cup finals, he announced his complete retirement from BBC commentary in September 2017. He unexpectedly came out of retirement to work for Talksport in July 2018.