Former soccer star Gary Lineker is stepping down as host of BBC Sport’s flagship show Match of the Day after 26 years at the helm.
The England captain, a former Barcelona player and regarded as one of England’s all-time great footballers, first took up the role in 1999 and will step down at the end of the current Premier League season, but has extended his contract with BBC Sport. did. He will lead the public broadcaster’s World Cup coverage until 2026. He will continue to host MOTD’s Top 10 Podcast and The Rest is Football Podcast.
Match of the Day is one of the most famous football programs in the world, broadcast on the BBC since 1964. The late night BBC One slot will show highlights from Saturday’s Premier League match, featuring Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard, Micah Richards, Martin Keown, Danny Murphy and Theo Walcott.
Mr Lineker, now 63, is the face of BBC Sport and the company’s highest-paid presenter, earning more than £1.3 million a year and working at World Cups, European Championships and Premier Leagues for more than 20 years. He has led coverage of the league.
Lineker said: “I am delighted to continue our long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank everyone who has made this possible.”
Alex Kay Jelski, director of BBC Sport, added: “Gary is a world-class presenter and we are delighted that he will lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup. I think so,” he added. After 25 seasons, Gary is retiring from MOTD. I would like to thank him for everything he has done for this show, which continues to attract millions of viewers every week. We are very disappointed that he will no longer be on the show, but we are very happy that he will remain on the BBC to bring us live football.”
Mr Lineker, a household name in the UK, has caused controversy in recent years when he publicly compared the Conservative government’s Home Office’s immigration policy to Nazi Germany on X (then Twitter). As Mr Lineker attacked the Tories’ “incalculably cruel” policy of trying to stop asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel into the UK in small boats, the BBC announced social media rules for current employees. This led to a crackdown on
BBC News reported that the news of Mr Lineker’s departure from MOTD was first detailed in The Sun newspaper. The BBC also reported that Mr Lineker was open to remaining on Match of the Day, but did not offer him a new contract for the show when negotiations began in October.
Throughout his broadcasting career, the host has also worked for other sports networks, including US networks NBC and BT Sport (now TNT Sports).
Lineker is widely regarded as a talented and charismatic presenter, and a long-awaited search for his replacement has begun.
