The world obtained some very unhappy information earlier at this time once we realized that legendary English soccer commentator John Motson, whose profession spanned many years (and included very lengthy stints in video video games), had handed away on the age of 77.
Even essentially the most informal English-speaking soccer fan will know his work, no matter whether or not they knew his identify or not. Motson was one of the vital endearing commentators within the sport, starting his profession on radio within the Nineteen Sixties earlier than shifting to TV shortly after. He didn’t retire till 2018, having coated ten World Cups, ten European Championships and, extremely, over 2500 video games in complete, on each TV and radio, domestically and internationally.
As acquainted as Motson’s work was to anybody catching a recreation on TV or the radio, he’ll be nearly as acquainted to a complete era of avid gamers. Given his prominence within the precise commentary sales space, Motson was chosen to be the primary (English) voice of EA Sports activities’ FIFA collection, starting with its first foray into the world of CD-based video games in FIFA 96. Which suggests he was additionally the principle commentator for FIFA 98, which as we’ve coated right here beforehand is the best sports activities online game ever made.
Motson’s final FIFA recreation as the principle commentator was FIFA 06, after a decade spent working alongside a number of the greats of the enterprise, like Ally McCoist. He did, nevertheless, make a pleasant little return over a decade after that, as a part of FIFA 19’s singleplayer story marketing campaign, which featured a flashback second that solely Motson’s iconic commentary might convey to life:
Motson, who handed away “peacefully in his sleep”, is survived by his spouse Anne and his son Frederick.