English soccer commentator John Motson — who had a 50-year career with the BBC — has died aged 77.

Motson started working on the BBC's flagship soccer highlights show Match of the Day in 1971.

He went on to cover 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for the channel before retiring from the organisation in 2018.

"It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today [Thursday]," his family said a statement.

Motson, popularly known as "Motty",  became an OBE in 2001 for services to sports broadcasting and commentated on his his final game for BBC in 2018 when Crystal Palace faced West Bromwich Albion.

English Premier League teams took to Twitter to pay tribute to "a truly iconic voice of the game" who was "one of the greatest commentators of his generation".

"His iconic voice will always be synonymous with football," England's Football Association said.

Arsenal Football Club said Motson was "synonymous with so many of the beautiful game's most incredible moments".

Former England striker and current Match of the Day commentator Gary Lineker said he was "deeply saddened" by Motson's passing.

"A quite brilliant commentator and the voice of football in this country for generations. He'll be very much missed," he said.

Motson joined the BBC on a full-time basis as a sports presenter on Radio 2 in 1968, having been at BBC Radio Sheffield beforehand.

British minister for culture, media and sport Lucy Frazer said he was an "ever present fixture" in people's lives. 

He commentated 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals.

"He will be sorely missed," she said.

Reuters/ ABC