All the best Motty’s personal career highlights

“Brian Clough. Whatever rant he went on it would be good television. The first time, I asked my producer what I should ask. He said, ‘Get him to read the telephone directory and people will still listen’.” “France 98, a real football country – they invented the tournament after all. They

sound of my voice, others were very kind and said I really spoke their language.” But even if you preferred Barry Davies, Martin Tyler or Clive Tyldesley, nobody could deny Motson knew his stuff.

His research was extraordinary. I recall once doing an article following his preparations for the won it, so the atmosphere was fantastic.” “England 5 Germany 1, a terrific night (Michael Owen is pictured in Munich in 2001). Followed by Brazil v Italy in 1982 – such an emotional game.” “English: Paul Gascoigne. Foreign: Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo.”

1992 FA Cup final. He had sat in the stands as Sunderland played their last league game before the final, away at Brighton, then positioned himself in reception at the hotel where they were staying, watching each of the players at close quarters as they checked out, committing to memory their faces, identify the players, those rules are at the heart of commentary.

“What’s changed is technology. When I started, the BBC only had one replay machine and it was used for the racing. When I first reported a penalty shoot-out, I had to mark up my own piece of paper.” That, he reckons, was his most neve-racking moment.

“I never felt more scared than that shoot-out in the 1990 World Cup semi-final. I thought, if I lose track of the sequence and say England are through to the final

– or more likely Germany are – and there was still a penalty to go, I’d be finished. Fortunately I didn’t.”

And that moment in Turin represents another thing: the closest Motson came to what he reckons would have been the crowning privilege of his magnificent career.

“I’ve tried ever so hard to be a neutral. But the one time I could allow myself the luxury of commentating from one team’s perspective was with England. Though I had to be careful not to say us and we, because of the licence fee payers in Wales and Scotland, not to forget Northern Ireland. And I have to say one of my only regrets is I never saw England in a major final. I wish my successors every luck in that particular department.”

One thing is certain: should England ever make it to a final, Motson will be watching. Because while he may well be a great broadcaster, a magnificent voice, a national institution, above all “Motty” is a football fan.

“People often say to me what a lucky man I was to have been paid for doing something I love,” he says. “They’re right, of course I was incredibly lucky. Though I would add the rider that there was maybe a little bit of work involved.”