UPDATE: The BBC has confirmed experiences on Monday evening that Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day on the finish of the present Premier League season. He’ll proceed to current for the BBC till the 2026 FIFA World Cup, together with internet hosting stay FA Cup protection.
Lineker stated: “I’m delighted to proceed my lengthy affiliation with BBC Sport and wish to thank all those that made this occur.”
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, added: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our protection of the subsequent World Cup and proceed to steer our stay protection of the FA Cup.
“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We wish to thank him for every little thing he has finished for the present, which continues to draw hundreds of thousands of viewers every week. He’ll be vastly missed on the present however we’re so completely happy he’s staying with the BBC to current stay soccer.”
PREVIOUS: The BBC is gearing as much as announce that its highest-paid presenter is heading for the exit door.
Gary Lineker is able to step down from iconic Premier League highlights present Match of The Day on the finish of the 2024/25 season in Could subsequent yr and go away the BBC after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His choice, which may very well be formally introduced on Tuesday, was first reported by The Solar newspaper and has been confirmed by BBC Information.
Lineker’s consultant declined to disclaim the experiences when contacted by Deadline. The BBC has been approached for remark.
Lineker has offered Match of the Day for 25 years and has been the BBC’s highest-paid presenter for the previous seven years, incomes £1.35M ($1.8M).
He’s extremely regarded by BBC administration and popular with audiences, however his relationship with the company has change into fractious over his use of social media in recent times.
Lineker was briefly suspended final yr over a single tweet, by which he in contrast authorities rhetoric on asylum seekers to Nazi Germany. His punishment sparked embarrassment for the BBC as different sports activities presenters walked out in solidarity. Lineker was swiftly reinstated.
Questions have continued to be raised about his impartiality on X (previously Twitter) although his posting on the platform has decreased considerably in current months.
Lineker has additionally grown his enterprise pursuits exterior of the BBC, most notably via Goalhanger Podcasts, which makes table-topping reveals similar to The Relaxation Is Historical past and The Relaxation Is Leisure.
Lineker’s exit is among the worst-kept secrets and techniques in UK tv. In October, MailOnline stated it had seen an e-mail that urged BBC chiefs, together with director basic Tim Davie, have been drawing up a press discover about Lineker’s exit. The BBC didn’t verify or deny its existence.
Lineker was requested about his future on the BBC in an interview with a colleague earlier this yr. He stated: “We’ll have to attend and see what occurs. It’s an ever-changing feast, soccer, and tv and soccer, and rights for the Premier League and stuff like that so all of these items will play a component. However I simply really feel that it’s been a privilege to current it for 25 years now. I have to be getting previous.”
Experiences about Lineker’s exit have sparked rapid hypothesis about who will step into his footwear on Match of the Day, which is among the BBC’s most revered manufacturers.
Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman is seen as a pure successor, whereas Soccer Focus presenter Alex Scott has been linked to the function.
Others who may very well be within the body embrace Gaby Logan, a extremely revered BBC Sport presenter, and Dan Walker, the previous Soccer Focus host who now anchors Paramount’s 5 Information.
