Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match of the Day at the end of the current Premier League season, the BBC have confirmed.
The broadcaster has also confirmed that Lineker has already left the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year presenting line up.
According to a new contract agreed between Lineker and the BBC, the presenter is to earn significantly less that the £1.35 million that he had previously earned as the highest annual earner.
It was also confirmed that Gary Lineker will continue to host the BBC’s FA Cup coverage in 2025/26, and the World Cup in 2026.
In a brief statement, Gary Lineker did explain why he was leaving his role as host of Match of
“I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen”, Lineker said.
“hugely missed”
Confirming the news regarding Lineker’s new contract, a BBC spokesperson said this.
“We can confirm Gary has decided to step down from the team presenting BBC Sports Personality Of The Year”, they said. “After 23 years last year’s 70th anniversary was his final show”.
Speaking about Gary Lineker’s departure as MOTD host, director of BBC Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup”.
He also added: “After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week”.
“He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football”.
Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999, replacing Des Lynam who moved to ITV.
He has confirmed that he will still provide the BBC with the MTOD Top 10 podcast, which is produced by his own Goalhanger production company.
This company was founded in 2014, and claims to be the largest independent podcast firm in the UK, having been downloaded more than 380 million times this year.
It was also revealed that The Rest Is Football podcast, which is also produced by Lineker’s Goalhanger company, will feature on BBC sounds.
In March last year, Gary Lineker stepped away from hosting Match of the Day, following a row over impartiality, which stemmed from a tweet sent out by the presenter, where he compared the illegal immigration bill to Germany’s political regime of the 1930s.
Lineker was removed from the air. However, this led to a number of colleagues standing with him, including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright. Lineker soon returned to his role.
