Arsenal paid tribute to John Motson in a post on Instagram, following news of the legendary commentator’s death at the age of 77.
Upon Motson’s passing, his family released a statement, which reads: “It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today.”
The post was captioned with: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Motson. One of the greatest commentators of his generation, he was synonymous with so many of the beautiful game’s most incredible moments. Rest in peace, John.”
View this post on Instagram
Currently, the post of Motson has just under 75,000 likes on Instagram, with several users leaving their own tributes in the comments section.
Motson, more commonly known by his nickname of “Motty”, began his commentary career all the way back in 1968. He would continue on in the profession until 2018, with his final live radio game being Arsenal vs Watford in the Premier League.
Over the course of his unparalleled career, Motson covered ten World Cups, as well as ten European Championships and over 200 England games. His last World Cup was the 2010 iteration of the tournament in South Africa.
Perhaps Motson’s most memorable moment came when Ronnie Radford scored against Newcastle United in the FA Cup. While this moment is iconic for many reasons, Motson’s immortal commentary was a key factor in its staying power.
He was also known for his interesting choice of attire – Motson was rarely seen outside of his trademark sheepskin coat, which he began wearing in 1990.
