Motson covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships, and 29 FA Cup finals.
He had worked on Match of the Day since 1971 and was known as “Motty.”
John Motson OBE passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, according to a statement released by his family.
His wife Anne and son Frederick survive him.
John Motson was the voice of a footballing generation, guiding us through the twists and turns of FA Cup campaigns, the highs and lows of World Cups, and, of course, Saturday nights on Match of the Day,” said Tim Davie.
John, like all the greats behind the microphone, had the perfect words at the right time for all the big moments.
Gary Lineker, the host of Match of the Day, expressed his “deepest sadness” over the news of Motson’s death.
“A brilliant commentator who has been the voice of football in this nation for generations. He will be greatly missed.”
Motson, the son of a Methodist preacher, started as a correspondent for the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph.
Four years after beginning his career as a sports correspondent on Radio 2. He broke through on Match of the Day during the famous FA Cup rematch between Hereford and Newcastle.
Originally scheduled as a five-minute segment, Hereford’s shocking 2-1 victory, highlighted by Ronnie Radford’s 30-yard goal. Elevated the match to the main event, with Motson capturing all the drama.
Motson, known for his trademark sheepskin coats and encyclopedic knowledge of the game, was the BBC’s voice on significant finals such as the FA Cup, European Championship, and World Cup from 1979 to 2008.
This stretch included his record-breaking sixth World Cup final in Berlin in 2006 and his record-breaking 29th FA Cup final in 2008.
He also covered more than 200 England matches and commentated on almost 2,500 televised games.
In 2018, he covered the match between Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion for Match of the Day.
After the match, he was invited onto the field and applauded by the crowd before Palace manager Roy Hodgson presented him with a crystal microphone and a framed copy of the programs from his first and last matches at Selhurst Park.
He returned to work for Talksport and also provided voiceovers for some football video games.
For his contributions to sports broadcasting, Motson was awarded an OBE in 2001.
He was also recognized in 2018 for his “exceptional contribution to sports broadcasting” at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta).
“He was a legend in the commentary booth and will be greatly missed. His family is in our thoughts and condolences “Chris Sutton.
“I always wanted to be John Motson when I was a teenager,” said commentator Clive Tyldesley, who worked with Motson. Nobody else. Very sorrowful.”
