Gary Lineker will depart from Match Of The Day after a remarkable 25 years, as reported by Sky News.
The former England forward will officially resign at the conclusion of the current football season in May 2025.
It has been revealed that he will remain at the BBC until the end of the upcoming World Cup set to take place in the US, Mexico, and Canada in 2026.
Gary Lineker on Match of the Day in 2018. Pic: BBC/Pete Dadds
His exit from the iconic program was previously disclosed by The Sun.
Lineker has been the face of the Premier League highlights show since 1999, following the transition of his predecessor Des Lynam to ITV.
In March 2023, Lineker was temporarily suspended from Match Of The Day due to a backlash over remarks he made on social media that criticized the then Conservative government’s asylum policies.
This incident led the BBC to initiate an independent evaluation of its social media policies, and Lineker returned to broadcast shortly after.
However, the 63-year-old may continue his association with the BBC beyond 2026, potentially focusing on podcasting – a field where he has achieved significant success lately.
The presenter is the co-creator of Goalhanger Podcasts, renowned for producing popular series including The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, and The Rest Is Entertainment.
Founded in 2014, the company claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast organization, announcing in September that its podcasts had been downloaded over 380 million times this year.
Lineker hosts his own football podcast with Goalhanger titled The Rest Is Football, alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, and Gary Lineker, who present the podcast The Rest Is Football. Pic: AP
In recent years, Lineker has been the highest-paid figure at the BBC due to his roles on programs like Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year, plus his coverage of significant tournaments, including World Cups and European Championships.
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He earned approximately £1.35 million during the financial year 2023-24, according to the latest figures released by the BBC.
The corporation has stated that it will refrain from commenting on this issue.
It remains uncertain who will succeed Lineker on Match Of The Day. Former Tottenham Hotspur player Jermaine Jenas was viewed as a potential successor but was dismissed from the BBC in August due to allegations of inappropriate conduct.
Former Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell, who co-hosts The Rest Is Politics with ex-Conservative MP Rory Stewart, remarked that Lineker would be “an exceptionally difficult act to follow.”
“He is a superb broadcaster and a genuinely good person,” Campbell conveyed to Sky News.
Alastair Campbell on Sky News this evening
The political analyst humorously noted that Lineker “considers me to be his natural successor… as long as I’m permitted to wear my Burnley ties”.
Lineker with his Footballer of the Year Award, presented to him by the Football Writers Association in 1995. Pic: PA
Prior to venturing into broadcasting, Lineker had a successful tenure as a forward, earning 80 caps for England. His career included stints with Leicester City, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Barcelona.
