Legendary football commentator John Motson dies

John Motson pictured at a Premier League game between Portsmouth and Manchester United. [Getty Images]

Legendary football commentator John Motson is dead.

The news of his death was announced by his family on Wednesday, February 23.

The family said Motson died peacefully in his sleep aged 77.

He was born at Salford, Lancashire in England, the United Kingdom.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today," Motson's family said.

Motson worked for BBC as a sports presenter on Radio 2 for 50 years having joined the news organisation in 1968.

Before joining BBC, Motson worked as a newspaper reporter in Barnet and at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph.

He commentated on Hereford's FA Cup giant-killing against Newcastle in 1972.

The fixture took top billing on Match of the Day, pushing him into the spotlight and the affections of the sporting public.

He commentated on his sixth World Cup final in Germany in 2006.

His career also took in two Olympic Games and Wimbledon's memorable 1988 FA Cup final triumph against Liverpool at Wembley, when he said the Crazy Gang had beaten the Culture Club.

He was awarded the OBE in 2001 for services to broadcasting.

He is often associated with his sheepskin coat and known as "Motty", covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for the BBC before retiring from the broadcaster in 2018.

His final game for Match of the Day was that year.