Gary Lineker has spoken on social media for the first time about the shock news that he will be leaving Match of the Day at the culmination of the 2024-25 season.
Lineker has hosted the football highlights show since 1999, and in the following quarter of a century established himself as one of the most-loved sports broadcasters in the country.
He will present the BBC’s coverage of the upcoming 2026 World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada, and will still be part of the broadcasters’ FA Cup programming.
Though he was a popular figure, he has still split opinion at times. He was, for example, temporarily suspended last year for criticising the government’s asylum policy in a controversially worded tweet.
Yet the former England icon has frequently taken to social media to voice his opinion on global events, and it is for his willingness to ‘stand up for those less fortunate’ that a journalist took to X to praise Lineker.
Gary Lineker has spoken on social media about leaving Match of the Day for the first time since it was announced
The former England striker first started presenting the iconic highlights show back in 1999
‘Now more than ever, we need people like Gary Lineker to stand up for those less fortunate. Keep going, Gary,’ wrote journalist Simon Kellner.
To which Lineker – speaking about the news for the first time since it broke – responded: ‘Thank you, Simon.’
After 25 years at the helm of the BBC’s flagship football programme, Lineker has become an indelible figure in the minds of football fans.
His stewardship brought a number of memorable moments to the programme and its audience, for example presenting the show in his underpants as part of a wager following his Leicester side’s unprecedented Premier League crown.
‘Broadcaster Gary Lineker is to step down as host of flagship football programme Match of the Day at the end of this season, BBC News understands,’ the BBC wrote on Monday evening. .
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have previously been touted as the favourites to replace the former England striker.
His contract with the BBC finishes at the end of this season but he has been given an 18-month extension. However, that will not include Match of the Day anchoring duties.
The BBC’s director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, is ‘not exactly close’ with Lineker and is keen to slash spending and give the show a facelift, a source told The Sun. The decision to part ways with him comes after six weeks of talks.
Arguably his most iconic moment on the show came when he presented it in his underpants in August 2016 after Leicester City won the Premier League title
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have previously been touted as among the favourites to succeed him when he goes
In October Mail Sport revealed an email purportedly from the BBC’s Director of Sport, Kay-Jelski, which featured a statement announcing his imminent departure from the show.
That email also included comments from director general Tim Davie, who hailed an ‘incredible’ stint and described Lineker as a ‘world class presenter’.
A source told The Sun: ‘Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day, and has been incredibly happy at the BBC.
‘But he has been at the helm since 1999, and by the time he leaves, he will have been at the Beeb for 30 years.
‘It’s one of the industry’s worst kept secrets that the new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t exactly close. The former is very keen to make his mark by bringing in new faces, and slashing wage bills.
‘Negotiations have been ongoing for the past six weeks and finally a deal has been struck that everyone is pleased with.
‘Gary will be 65 when he leaves; frankly, he isn’t getting younger. and just feels the time is right to focus solely on his mogul interests outside the BBC – namely his Goalhanger podcasting business, which is becoming huge Stateside.
‘BBC execs, meanwhile, will be giving Match of the Day a reboot to keep it fresh in the wake of such a huge departure.’
Lineker landed himself in hot water when he called England ‘s***’ during Euro 2024
Former Leicester City striker Lineker was over the moon when his beloved side won the top tier
Micah Richards, a pundit on Match of the Day is one of Lineker’s The Rest Is Football co-hosts alongside Alan Shearer
Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a salary of £1.35million and his exit will close a long chapter for one of the nation’s most iconic shows.
The 1986 World Cup golden boot winner came in for criticism over the summer when he described England’s performance against Denmark in a 1-1 draw as ‘s***’.
His comments earned a retaliation from Harry Kane, who hit out at attacks from pundits who knew what it is like to ‘wear the shirt’.
Lineker currently also presents a hugely successful podcast alongside fellow Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, and will continue to do so once he departs the programme at the end of the season.
