Gary Lineker, the well-known presenter of Match of the Day, will be stepping down from his role at the end of the season as confirmed by the BBC. Although he will continue to cover the FA Cup in 2025-26 and the 2026 Fifa World Cup, Lineker will no longer be hosting the highlights programme after the 2024-25 season.
In a brief statement of just 21 words, Lineker expressed his delight in continuing his association with BBC Sport and thanked everyone who made it possible. However, he did not provide any specific reasons for his departure from Match of the Day.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the director of BBC Sport, praised Lineker as a “world class presenter” and expressed the BBC’s gratitude for his 25 years of dedication to the Saturday night football programme. Despite his departure from Match of the Day, Lineker will still be leading the coverage of the upcoming World Cup and the FA Cup.
Aside from his work at the BBC, Lineker has seen success with his Goalhanger Podcasts, which he founded in 2019. The company produces a variety of podcasts, including The Rest is Football, which is available on BBC Sounds. Lineker will also continue to feature on the MOTD Top 10 podcast.
Having taken over the Match of the Day chair from Des Lynam in 1999, Lineker has been a familiar face on football fans’ screens for the past 25 years. Despite jokes made on the show about his potential departure, Lineker’s decision to step down marks the end of an era for the popular programme.
Lineker, who has been one of the BBC’s highest-paid on-air stars for several years, faced a brief suspension in 2023 after making controversial comments. However, he was later reinstated following support from his colleagues.
As Lineker prepares to bid farewell to Match of the Day, fans will undoubtedly miss his presence on the show. His legacy as a prominent sports presenter and his contributions to the world of football broadcasting will not be forgotten.
