GARY LINEKER IS set to leave his role presenting Match of the Day at the end of the season, according to BBC News.
The former England striker will then leave the BBC after fronting the corporation’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, The Sun reports.
The 63-year-old took over as host of Match of the Day in 1999, having started as a presenter on BBC Radio Five Live and Grandstand.
In March last year, Lineker briefly stepped away from presenting the programme after his tweet about the British government’s asylum policy sparked a row about BBC presenters expressing political views on social media.
In solidarity with Lineker, a number of fellow presenters and pundits including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright refused to appear on the programme, meaning an episode was reduced to 20 minutes and aired without its host, pundits and commentary. Lineker was reinstated just over a week later.
In August 2016 he made good on an earlier promise to present the show in his underpants after his boyhood club Leicester won the Premier League.
Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott have immediately been installed as the front-runners to replace Lineker in the role. One prospective replacement, Jermaine Jenas, was axed by the BBC in September following an investigation into inappropriate behaviour.
Speculation had been mounting over Lineker’s future since an interview with BBC Breakfast in August in which he said he looked forward to “another year doing it, at least”.
Last week Lineker, who turns 64 at the end of November, admitted he would “have to slow down at some point”, and intimated to Esquire magazine that he may seek to focus full-time on his successful podcast business.
Lineker said: “I could do. Whether that will be the case I don’t know. At some point, I have to slow down somewhere… I’m getting old.”
Gave it his all, just an out and out dogged grafter, which is what’s you want from your backrowers. signed my son’s jersey and couldn’t have been more polite. An absolute gent. Thanks for everything Kevin
Great player. Big loss to Irish and Leinster Rugby. Hope he stays involved in the game in some capacity as he has a lot to offer. All the best
That’s a shame. Great player and contributor to Leinster rugby. All the best to him.
Top bloke, sad to see him go.
All the best for the future Kev. Thanks for the memories.
Always sad to read this. A great servant to Leinster. Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Best of luck Kev- those line out steals v Leicester in the 1/4 finals kind of summed up that win for us (for me)- great performance from a true professional.
At least he has a few Ireland caps as a reward for his efforts. A gentleman on the pitch and very nearly missed out on it all a few years back. Deserves luck in the “afterlife”.
sad news. was a good player .
Showed belief and commitment to come through the injuries that dogged him til he was 25 , deserved his caps and was excellent for Leinster on so many occasions . Sad to see him go out this way , he deserves more .
Seems like a lot of players retiring lately!! Always gave it his all!! Wish him well for the future!!
Great player and total grafter that allowed others to take the plaudits . I hope he gets a break with a coaching role if he wants to continue. I suspect he’s got a lot to offer Irish and Leinster rugby.
Has ” an absolute gent” replaced ” ledge” as the cliche used to describe these guys ? Lol
Are calling Ken a CocoNUT?
is,he brown and hairy?
Sad to see a player that good having to finish like this but he has a life after rugby too , your health is your wealth Kevin , the very best of luck to you in the future