As a long-time fan who has grown up with Gary Lineker’s insightful and witty commentary on Match of the Day, it’s bittersweet to hear about his decision to step down after 25 years. While I’m excited for him to continue his association with BBC Sport, particularly covering the 2026 World Cup, I can’t help but feel a little emptiness knowing that my Saturday nights won’t be the same without him on MOTD.
Gary Lineker is set to step down as host of Match of the Day after 25 years.
It has been verified that the previous striker, who has been hosting the BBC football highlights program since 1999, plans to leave his ongoing position at the conclusion of this current season.
Nevertheless, he’ll persist in collaborating with the BBC, spearheading the 2026 World Cup broadcast and serving as host for BBC Sport’s coverage during the 2025/26 FA Cup season.
The presenter plans to carry on with the “MOTD Top Ten” podcast, and BBC will air “The Rest Is Football” podcast featuring Lineker, which can be found on BBC Sounds.
It’s great to carry on my extended collaboration with BBC Sport, and I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in making this possible,” Lineker expressed in a statement.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the Head of BBC Sport, commented: “Gary is an exceptional broadcaster, and we’re thrilled that he will be in charge of our broadcasts during the upcoming World Cup and will also continue to head our live broadcasts of the FA Cup.
He went on to say: “Following 25 seasons, Gary will be leaving MOTD behind. We’d like to express our gratitude for his immense contributions that have kept this show popular with countless viewers every week.
Although his absence will undoubtedly be felt on the program, we are thrilled that he remains with the BBC, where he continues to present live football matches.
The chatter about Gary Lineker leaving Match of the Day started a month ago, and in response, he stated that discussions about his contract were imminent.
He mentioned during his “The Rest Is Football” podcast that his current contract will be ending in the summer. As a result, he’s having discussions about his future, which is normal. However, he seemed puzzled as to why these conversations escalated into such a big deal.
Match of the Day airs on Saturdays on BBC One.
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2024-11-12 14:48