JOHN MOTSON, THE legendary football commentator, will retire from the BBC at the end of the season, calling time on his 50-year career with the broadcaster.
The 72-year-old has narrated some of English football’s most iconic moments, from non-league Hereford’s shock win over Newcastle in 1972 to Leicester’s fairytale Premier League season in 2015/16.
Since making his debut in 1968, Motson covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships, 29 FA Cup finals and more than 200 England international matches, the BBC said on Wednesday.
Barbara Slater, BBC director of sport, paid tribute to his “instantly recognisable voice, wonderful sense of humour and his incredible dedication to the sport.”
Motson’s final season in the commentary box will see him call 18 Premier League games over the course of the 2017/18 campaign as well as featuring during the BBC’s FA Cup final coverage.
“I’m hoping to keep my association with football and with broadcasting,” Motson said.
“I’m not retiring from everything, I’m retiring from the BBC.”
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
