John Motson will make his last live BBC commentary this weekend

The end of an era. BBC commentator and pundit John Motson will step down from his role after this weekend’s Premier League fixtures.

Motson, 72, will deliver his final live BBC commentary when Arsenal face Watford in the lunchtime kick-off on Sunday.

He announced he would be calling it quits this year back in September. The 72-year-old will however continue to appear on Match of the Day until May.

‘I’ve absolutely loved my time commentating for BBC Sport,’ Motson said last year after confirming his retirement plan from the BBC.

‘I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some of the biggest moments in football history mere yards away from the action, so I’ve really been very lucky.’ 

Motson has spent over 50 years working at the national broadcasters and made his first radio commentary in Everton’s fixture against Derby in December 1969.

The 72-year-old commentator and pundit confirmed he would leave the BBC last September

A few years later in the early 1970s Motson came to prominence when he provided the TV commentary for what began as a run of the mill FA Cup third-round replay.

His commentary skills echoed the experience felt by fans in the turntstiles which saw him quickly rise up the ranks at the BBC.

Motson was initially hired by the BBC in 1968, with a contract to work as a sports presenter on Radio 2, but graduated to TV commentary and ended up directly replacing their original star Kenneth Wolstenholme.

The BBC spotted Motson’s talent and made him a permanent fixture on the MOTD and live commentary, particularly England internationals. 

Motson, who was known for his trademark sheepskin coats, longevity and excitable boys’ own way behind a microphone, covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships, 29 FA Cup finals and more than 200 England games during his career.

He is hoping to keep his association with football and broadcasting after he leaves his role at the BBC.