1 week ago
2
Gary Lineker 'doesn't know' when he'll stop presenting MOTD
Gary Lineker confirmed he would be stepping down from Match Of The Day at the end of the season as he will continue to host the FA Cup and lead the 2026 World Cup coverage.
In a podcast clip from his show The Rest Is Football, the former England striker shared who he thought had the most chance of replacing him going forward.
Speaking with fellow former footballers Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Gary said: "I'd love to see you take over Micah. I think you would be brilliant in the chair."
Micah responded excitedly: "Imagine Big Meeks a dictator!"
Speculation is hotting up as to who will replace the 63-year-old in the MOTD chair with the likes of Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan all thought to be in the running.
Gary Lineker is set to leave Match Of The Day. (Image: Getty)
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.
"After 25 seasons, Gary has stepped down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers weekly. He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”
Lineker has often courted controversy, with his declared annual salary of £1.3m making him the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, and he was briefly suspended in 2023 after airing political views critical of the Conservative government on social media.
The incident led to a review of BBC social media guidelines, which concluded that high-profile presenters should be allowed to express views on issues and policies but stop short of political campaigning.
Gary has hosted MOTD for 25 years. (Image: GETTY)
Lineker described the new rules at the time as "all very sensible".
Earlier in the year, the presenter joked about speculation he could leave the BBC. He opened a Match of the Day broadcast by saying it was his “final show”. After a pause, he added “before the international break”.
Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke also said the BBC is "in difficulties financially", referring to recent job cuts being made as part of wider BBC efforts to save £700m a year, adding that losing Lineker "would be a saving on a sports budget, which you could use elsewhere".
He did not speculate on whether Lineker had been "offered a new contract or not", or as to whether the recent controversy over the presenter's social media use was connected with his departure.
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
"Whether this has anything to do with that, I don't know. It's one of the few times I've disagreed with the BBC since I left.
"I thought that he was a sports presenter, and therefore what he was saying about politics was irrelevant to his performance as as a presenter.
"But it's there in the background. So it must have been a thought in the mind of of whoever took the decision."
English (US) ·