The most famous voice in sport is set to hang up his microphone at the end of this season. John Motson has commentated on football for the BBC for 50 years, and now, aged 72, he has decided it’s time for the final whistle.

Legendary Commentator John Motson To Retire At The End Of The Season

Known to many fans as “Motty,” John Motson has covered no fewer than 10 world cups, 29 FA cup finals, and over 200 games for the national team.

Motson has become known for his dress sense almost as much as his voice and is very often seen with his sheepskin coat. With so much experience over such a long period of time, his encyclopaedic knowledge of football is unrivalled and he is keen not to cut all ties with the game when he retires.

Final whistle

Motson will continue this season throughout the Premier League programme, finishing with a final FA Cup in May next year. He, and his incredible knowledge of players, clubs and strips, will be sorely missed.

Legendary Commentator John Motson To Retire At The End Of The Season

He would have an opinion as to whether teams in red football kits really win more games, as covered by The Telegraph, and certainly donning the team strip at any level gives a sense of real belonging.

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Having been the eyes of thousands of fans unable to attend a game in person for so long, Motson will be sorely missed by many. He has shown his great sense of humour throughout his career, and his unrivalled dedication.

He began his career as a young man himself, in print media rather than radio, as a journalist on a local newspaper, the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph. He chose his career in stark contrast to that of his father who was a Methodist minister. When Motson left the newspaper, he went to work for the BBC and landed as job as a sports reporter for Radio 2. His ability to capture the drama and excitement soon had him ‘spotted’ and moved across to television.

Loved by fans of all teams, John Motson was formally recognised for his dedication in 2001 when he was awarded an OBE for his services to sports broadcasting.