Ron Atkinson yesterday led the tributes to Brian Moore, ITV's former 'voice of football' who has died aged 69, describing him as the "daddy of all commentators".

Moore, whose commentating career lasted more than 30 years, passed away on Saturday at his home in Kent only hours before England's 5-1 win over Germany in Munich.

He had been a broadcaster since 1968 when he joined London Weekend Television - and he became the figurehead of ITV's football coverage until his retirement after the World Cup in 1998.

Former Manchester United manager Atkinson, who worked alongside Moore in the commentary box for several years, was quick to elevate him as the finest he had known.

He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "We've had some great commentators in this game, but I think he was the daddy of them all.

Atkinson said it was extremely sad that Moore missed England's five-goal triumph on Saturday night.

Moore, who grew up in Benenden in rural Kent, showed an early interest in sport - captaining his school cricket first XI - and began his journalistic career as a sub-editor before working on the Exchange Telegraph for two years and then the Times for three.

In 1961 he became a presenter for BBC Radio, commentating on the 1966 World Cup Final, before joining ITV in 1968.

John Motson, who as a football commentator for the BBC worked for many years as Moore's chief competitor, has hailed him as the "talisman" of ITV Sport for more than 30 years.

He said: "He used to promote the England cause whenever he could and he was a fantastic big-match commentator for ITV.

"I think everybody on both sides of the fence in broadcasting recognised Brian as the talisman of ITV Sport between the time he left BBC Radio in 1968 until the time he retired at the end of the World Cup in 1998."

"But I always remember the first time I did the FA Cup final in 1977 and going into the BBC commentary booth, very nervous, and there was a note on my desk saying 'make sure you enjoy it', signed by Brian Moore - and he was doing it for the opposition."