Wilson, who was also a Scottish international, said he thought it was time to move on after working on his ninth World Cup Finals.

He moved into broadcasting after a successful career on the pitch with the Gunners, part of the League Championship and FA Cup double-winning team in 1971.

Between 1974 and 1994 he worked for BBC Sport where he presented all the corporation’s major sports programmes including Grandstand, Sportsnight and Match of the Day.

Wilson said today: "I retired this year from coaching with Arsenal and I have now just worked on my ninth World Cup on television.

"A lot of young TV presenters are coming through and doing well. I just think it’s time. I’ve been so lucky."

Wilson, 60, joined ITV to front the Champions League programmes in 1994.

He has presented two World Cups and two European Championships, as well as FA Cup, Worthington Cup and England internationals for the commercial network.

There had been speculation he would leave ITV when Des Lynam defected from the BBC in 1999, but he continued.

He fronted Manchester United’s European Cup win against Bayern Munich in 1999, watched by 19 million viewers.

Wilson and his wife Megs have devoted much of their time in the past three years to the Willow Foundation charity which they established after the loss of their 31-year-old daughter Anna.

It helps seriously ill young adults between the ages of 16 and 40.

ITV controller of sport Brian Barwick said today: "Bob has done a tremendous job for ITV.

"A true broadcast professional with a genuine instinct and love of football, he leaves with the total respect of all his friends and colleagues."