Gus Johnson Steps Down as Fox's Top Soccer Broadcaster

Gus Johnson has chosen to leave his role as the lead announcer for Fox's soccer coverage, per Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated.

Johnson will remain part of the network's college football and college basketball coverage.

He cited the death of his mother as the biggest motivator for his decision:

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Johnson admitted his decision was influenced by the loss of his mother, Btroy Johnson, who died on June 7 from ovarian cancer. The last conversation Johnson had with her came in late May when he was in Lisbon calling the Champions League final between Spanish sides Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

"I asked her if she wanted me to come home and she said, 'No. You are a Johnson man and your job is to work,'" Johnson said. "I finished the game, got back home, and she was pretty much unconsciousness at that point because she had Stage Four ovarian cancer. I never got the chance to talk to her again because the cancer was eating her up. I think I’m still in the process of healing. My mother was the most important person in my life. She is the one who gave me my love for sports and communications."

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ESPN's Bob Ley offered kind words to Johnson after he heard the news:

Deitsch reported in February 2013 that Fox was elevating Johnson to the lead role with an eye toward the 2018 World Cup, which Fox has the rights to broadcast after outbidding the competition. It was a massive gamble by the network for a variety of reasons.

Johnson's commentary was the subject of ire among many soccer fans who preferred a more nuanced, subtle approach to Johnson's more bombastic nature.

It didn't help that he was elevated so quickly, going from San Jose Earthquakes radio broadcasts to massive Champions League clashes.

The question now is whom Fox will turn to as its new lead soccer broadcaster. The network will likely rely on an established British name like Ian Darke for the immediate future. VICE Sports' Aaron Gordon thinks Martin Tyler would be a great addition as well:

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In that piece, Martin Tyler's name is floated as an eventual replacement for Gus, which yes please.

— Aaron Gordon (@A_W_Gordon) September 15, 2014"

Awful Announcing's Steve Lepore believes Fox could use somebody like Darke or Tyler in the short term while building around an American for the long term:

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I think Fox should tentatively go after an English voice, but develop a legitimate American counterpart, too. Why not have the best of both?

— Steve Lepore (@stevelepore) September 15, 2014"

Whatever the decision, with the next World Cup a little less than four years away, the higher-ups at Fox still have some time to develop a signature American voice as the cornerstone of its coverage in Russia.

It will likely have learned from its mistakes with Johnson and make the transition for a new lead announcer much more gradual.