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He died in his sleep on 23 February 2023, at the age of 77. He had been suffering from bowel cancer since 2014, but whether or not that condition was related to his death has never been confirmed. [ 45 ]
Feb 23, 2023 · Legendary commentator John Motson, who had an illustrious 50-year career with the BBC, has died aged 77. Motson covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for BBC...
Feb 23, 2023 · John Motson, who has died at the age of 77, was famed for his iconic football commentaries.
- Overview
- Tyler: We were friends and rivals, but I was full of admiration for Motson
- Motson's iconic moments
- Ronnie Radford's rocket
- Crazy Gang beats Culture Club
- Gazza's tears in Turin
- Brilliant Gazza sinks Scotland
Legendary football commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77, the BBC has announced.
Motson - whose career in broadcasting spanned more than half a century - covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships, 29 FA Cup finals and over 200 England games during his long career.
A statement released by his family read: "It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today (Thursday)."
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An announcement on the BBC Sport website read: "Legendary commentator John Motson, who had an illustrious 50-year career with the BBC, has died aged 77."
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Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler gives his memories of friend and colleague John Motson who has died aged 77
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler:
"I was very shocked to hear the news. I didn't know John had been ill and I'm finding out now that he had been a little bit ill over the past year or so. I hadn't seen him so much since he disappeared from the gantry, but I saw 45 years of him on the gantry!
"First of all, he was somebody I admired in terms of the profession enormously. His preparation was second-to-none, his attention to detail, his wish to know everything possible about the game he was about to broadcast. He was a real example to me for that.
"Before my first television game back in 1974, he sent me a telegram, which said 'Talk little, but say a lot'. And I think that summed up John, really. He was economical with his words, but he punched them out when he spoke and they had great resonance.
John Motson's unforgettable voice scripted some of the most memorable football moments for more than 50 years.
During his distinguished career with the BBC, Motson, who has died aged 77, commentated on 29 FA Cup finals as well as 10 World Cups and hundreds of England games.
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"Now Tudor has gone down for Newcastle. Radford again.... what a goal! What a goal! Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford - the crowd are invading the pitch... and now it will take some time to clear the field."
In one of Motson's first Match of the Day commentaries, Ronnie Radford scored a thunderbolt as Hereford equalised in their FA Cup third-round replay against top-flight Newcastle on a boggy pitch at Edgar Street in February 1972.
In 1988, Wimbledon upset the odds to defeat newly-crowned league champions Liverpool 1-0 and win the FA Cup.
The Dons' memorable triumph was secured by a goal from Lawrie Sanchez and an historic penalty save by Dave Beasant, who became the first goalkeeper to do so in the final of the game's oldest knockout competition.
Motson felt Paul Gascoigne was the most "outstanding English player" he had seen and was there to commentate on one of the defining moments of the midfielder's international career.
The Tottenham youngster had produced some mesmerising performances to help drive Bobby Robson's men on through the knockout stages of the 1990 World Cup and to the semi-finals against West Germany in Turin.
After being shown a yellow card for a challenge which appeared to make minimal contact on Thomas Berthold, so ruling him out of the final should England have progressed, Gascoigne could not hold back his tears - and so captured the hearts of the nation watching back home.
"Oh dear, oh dear me," said Motson, echoing the collective sense of disappointment, as Gary Lineker turned to the England bench and mouthed: "have a word with him".
After the disappointment of Italia 90, Motson, who shared England duties with Barry Davies, was in the commentary box again for one of Gascoigne's finest moments when his goal helped Terry Venables' side beat Scotland at Euro 96.
With England leading their old rivals 1-0 in the second half at Wembley, Scotland had been awarded a penalty, which David Seaman saved from Gary McAllister. Before the Scots could regroup, England went on the offensive and doubled their advantage through a moment of sheer genius.
Darren Anderton helped the ball on from out on the left wing towards Gascoigne at the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder - playing his club football in Scotland for Rangers at the time - promptly flicked the ball up over Colin Hendry with his left foot, leaving the defender stumbling to the ground, before crashing a right-foot volley past Andy Goram.
"Oh brilliant! Oh yes! Oh yes!" Motty declared as Gascoigne sprinted to lie on the pitch behind the goal, his arms wide in the 'dentist's chair' celebration as team-mates gleefully sprayed water into his open mouth - which needed no additional commentary.
- 3 min
Feb 23, 2023 · Legendary commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77. He covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for BBC Sport
Feb 23, 2023 · John Motson, who has died aged 77, was BBC television’s “voice” of football for almost half a century, commentating for Match of the Day from 1971 until his retirement in 2018 and becoming...
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Feb 23, 2023 · John Motson, the legendary commentator who became the voice of English football, has died aged 77. Motson worked on the BBC’s flagship Match of the Day programme since 1971 and covered more...
