Gary Lineker QUITS Match of the Day: England legend confirms he will step down from BBC role after 26 years at the end of the season
Gary Lineker has quit Match of the Day after 26 years of hosting the BBC’s flagship football show, the England legend confirmed on Tuesday.
Lineker, who was the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a salary of £1.35million, will step down at the end of the season to close a long – and controversial – chapter for one the nation’s most iconic programmes.
The 63-year-old presenter, whose contract was coming to an end, entered negotiations with the BBC’s new director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, in October.
BBC News reported that while Lineker was open to staying on as host he was not offered a new contract to present the show.
Lineker’s relationship with Kay-Jelski has also been described as ‘not exactly close’ by The Sun’s sources, with the new chief keen to clash spending and give the show a facelift.
Gary Lineker has quit Match of the Day after 26 years with the BBC’s flagship football show
The 63-year-old England legend was the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a salary of £1.35m
Lineker hosts The Rest is Football podcast with Alan Shearer, left, and Micah Richards, centre
He will also step down from other duties with the BBC, such as hosting England matches during major tournaments such as the World Cup and European Championships, but only after the 2025-26 season.
His contract with the BBC finishes at the end of this campaign, but the presenter has been given an 18-month extension to continue all duties excluding Match of the Day.
It means Lineker will continue to present the BBC’s FA Cup coverage for the 2025-26 season, as well as fronting broadcasting for the 2026 World Cup.
The former Tottenham, Barcelona and Leicester footballer’s exit was effectively confirmed by his business partner Alastair Campbell, who claimed he would be a ‘very hard act to follow’.
Lineker branched out in recent years by co-founding the production company Goalhanger, which produces his podcast The Rest is Football, with other titles including The Rest is History, The Rest is Entertainment and The Rest is Politics. The latter is co-hosted by Campbell.
Lineker’s time as the face of Match of the Day has been divisive at times, with the presenter temporarily suspended last year for criticising the government’s asylum policy in a controversially worded tweet.
He returned soon after following a walk-out by his MOTD colleagues who showed solidarity with the former England striker, and the row even prompted the Beeb to overhaul and draw up a new set of guidelines for its presenters and their social media use.
It has been hard for the BBC to keep a handle on him when he presents his popular podcast, The Rest Is Football, alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
Despite quitting Match of the Day from next season, Lineker will continue to present the BBC’s FA Cup coverage for 2025-26, as well as fronting broadcasting for the 2026 World Cup
Mark Chapman (right) and Gabby Logan (left) have previously been touted as among the favourites to succeed Lineker, while Micah Richards and Alex Scott are also in contention
Lineker’s recent years have been controversial due to his outspoken social media presence
During Euro 2024 he branded England’s performance against Denmark as ‘s***’, which prompted a retaliation from Harry Kane, who hit out at attacks from pundits who knew what it is like to ‘wear the shirt’.
That shock jock tone landed him in hot water and stands in stark contrast to the more composed, cerebral style that Match of the Day upholds.
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have previously been touted as the favourites to replace the former England striker.
Former Manchester City defender Richards and ex-Lionesses star Alex Scott are also considered among the frontrunners to land the hosting role.
