John Motson was one of the most iconic and recognizable voices in English football history. His distinctive voice, encyclopedic knowledge of the game, and colorful commentary style have made him a beloved figure among football fans for over four decades. From his first commentary on Match of the Day in 1971 to his retirement from the BBC in 2018, Motson has been an integral part of the British football landscape.
John Motson was born on July 10, 1945, in Salford, Lancashire, England. He attended Culverhay Grammar School in Bath and later studied history and politics at the University of Sussex. After completing his studies, Motson began his journalism career as a reporter for the Barnet Press, a local newspaper in north London.
In 1968, Motson joined the BBC as a sports reporter, working on programs such as Sportsnight and Grandstand. He commentated on his first football match for Match of the Day in 1971, covering a game between Liverpool and Arsenal. Motson quickly established himself as a popular and authoritative voice in football broadcasting, and he went on to cover some of the biggest games in English football history.
Over the course of his career, John Motson covered 29 FA Cup finals, 10 World Cup tournaments, and countless other domestic and international matches. He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of football, which included an impressive ability to recall obscure statistics and facts. He was also famous for his distinctive voice, which has been described as "raspy," "excitable," and "authoritative."
Motson's commentary style was marked by a number of signature phrases and catchphrases. For example, he would often describe a player as having "a left foot like a wand," or describe a goal as "a collector's item." He also had a habit of providing quirky and often irrelevant statistics during matches, such as the fact that a player had not scored a goal since his grandmother's birthday.
Some of Motson's most memorable moments in football broadcasting include his coverage of the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England, in which Diego Maradona scored his infamous "Hand of God" goal. Motson famously described the goal as "a little man who's just come up with the answer." He also covered the 1999 Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, which saw United score two goals in injury time to win the match.
John Motson retired from the BBC in 2018, after almost 50 years with the corporation. His final commentary was on a match between Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. In an interview with the BBC after his retirement, Motson said that he was most proud of his longevity in the business, as well as the fact that he had been able to maintain his passion for football throughout his career.
Motson's legacy in English football is unquestioned. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest football commentators of all time, and his distinctive voice and colorful commentary style have become synonymous with the sport itself. His catchphrases and quirky statistics have entered the lexicon of English football, and his contributions to the game will be remembered for generations to come.
You can also read : The 12-time Grammy award winner dies at 89
