Iran Press/ Europe: Motty passed away this year at the age of 77, leaving a 2,000-game legacy behind the mic and plenty of memories. He beat several classic commentators, along with a number of memorable voices still heard on TV such as Clive Tyldesley, Peter Drury, and Martin Tyler.
"We've been blessed with some amazing commentators over the years and sadly we’ve lost some of the greats in recent years," A spokesperson for CopyBet.com, which commissioned the research said.
The BBC made a clean sweep in the study, with Match of the Day's Gary Lineker coming out on top as the best presenter on football coverage right now. MOTD sidekicks Alan Shearer and Ian Wright polled well for the best pundit, with the Beeb's highlight show itself being voted as the best football show on TV.
As well as honing in on the personalities at the center of the game, however, the study also asked fans what they look for in presenters, pundits, and commentators. On average, those polled listen to two hours and seven minutes of football coverage on the radio a week and watch three hours and 28 minutes of it on TV.
Sixty-two percent said that watching or listening to coverage is like spending time with mates, with the same percentage said that their favorite football broadcasters also take their mind off worries they might have.
For commentators, 33 percent claimed that player knowledge was most important ahead of impartiality (26 percent), and the ability to create an engaging narrative (24 percent) are important. 56 percent expect presenters to have good player knowledge with 36 percent wanting good banter. With pundits, 36 percent want insight, while 28 percent want a pundit who will argue with colleagues. Twenty-six percent look for an unbiased approach.
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