Less than a year before the World Cup debuts on FOX, Gus Johnson has stepped down as the network’s lead soccer voice.
Johnson asked to be relieved of his duties as Fox Sports’ lead soccer play-by-play voice last week, Sports Illustrated reported Sunday, citing in part his current workload of college football and basketball games. His request was granted, bringing his tenure to a close after one and a half years.
When FOX tapped Johnson for soccer coverage last year, the hope was that he would eventually work his way up to becoming the lead voice of its 2018 World Cup coverage. With five years of preparation calling events such as the UEFA Champions League final, he would ideally transform from a self-described novice to a credible authority on the sport, reports Sports Media Watch.
Though that effort has now ended, there is still the possibility that Johnson will call some matches in the future. Both Johnson and Fox Sports president Eric Shanks told SI.com that he could occupy a smaller role during the 2018 World Cup.
Fox Sports, as one would expect, has not announced who will replace Johnson as the voice of its soccer coverage.