Gary Lineker 'to leave Match of the Day' at the end of the football season

11 November 2024, 19:43 | Updated: 11 November 2024, 20:30

Gary Lineker is to leave Match Of The Day after 25 years
Gary Lineker is to leave Match Of The Day after 25 years. Picture: Alamy

By Will Conroy

Gary Lineker is set to leave Match of the Day after presenting the show for 25 years, according to reports.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The former England striker will step down from presenting the Premier League highlights show, which he has hosted since 1999, at the end of the current football season.

It is understood he will stay at the BBC until the end of the next World Cup being held in the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

He will also continue to anchor the Corporation's 2025/26 FA Cup coverage, according to reports.

The former England striker will step down from presenting the Premier League highlights show,  at the end of the current football season
The former England striker will step down from presenting the Premier League highlights show, at the end of the current football season. Picture: Alamy

A BBC source reportedly told the Sun on Sunday night: “Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day, and has been incredibly happy at the BBC.

“But he has been at the helm since 1999, and by the time he leaves, he will have been at the Beeb for 30 years.

“He wants to leave on a high - and if England win the World Cup, it doesn’t get much higher.

“It’s one of the industry’s worst kept secrets that the new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t exactly close. The former is very keen to make his mark by bringing in new faces, and slashing wage bills.

“Negotiations have been ongoing for the past six weeks and finally a deal has been struck that everyone is pleased with."

It is understood Lineker will stay at the BBC until the end of the next World Cup
It is understood Lineker will stay at the BBC until the end of the next World Cup. Picture: Alamy

The 63-year-old has been the broadcaster's highest-paid star in recent years, currently earning £1.35m for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year.

The presenter was briefly removed from from the show in March 2023 over comments he made on social media criticising the then Conservative government's asylum policies.

The BBC launched an independent review of its social media guidelines and Lineker shortly returned.

Read more: I'm A Celeb 2024 line-up confirmed: Full list of stars entering the jungle including Coleen Rooney and Tulisa

Read more: Dexys Midnight Runners star Andy Leek dies aged 66 - just days after wedding

In a recent interview with Esquire Magazine, the former Barcelona and Tottenham forward was asked if was stepping down from the Match of the Day hotseat.

He replied: "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."

It is unclear who will take over from Lineker on Match Of The Day.

Former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Jermaine Jenas widely tipped be his natural successor but he was sacked from the BBC in August over claims of inappropriate behaviour.

The BBC has said it is not formally commenting on the matter.

The presenter is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which claims to be the UK's largest independent podcast firm.

Lineker presents his own podcast with Goalhanger called 'The Rest Is Football' alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Donald Trump's 10% tariff on UK products has officially come into force

Jaguar Land Rover halts shipments to US in wake of tariffs as Trump insists he'll win 'economic revolution'

Breaking
The fire happened at Goldenbeach Holiday Park, Roman Bank, Ingoldmells.

Two people killed in caravan fire at holiday park in Lincolnshire

Easter eggs have been recalled over a potential risk of 'metal'

'Do not eat' warning as major chocolate brand recalls two Easter eggs amid fears they contain metal

Flowers and toys left on a swing seat to commemorate victims killed in Russia's missile attack on Friday

Death toll from Russian strike on Zelenskyy's home town rises as 18 confirmed dead - including nine children

Lucy Connolly

Tory councillor's wife who was jailed for tweets inciting racial hatred after Southport attacks 'denied temporary release'

The scene at Beckenham Place Park

Body found in search for teenage boy who went missing while swimming in lake in south-east London

Molly Russell took her own life in 2017.

Meta and Pinterest 'make secret donation to Molly Russell charity'

Elton John

Sir Elton John says he 'can't read, watch TV or see his boys play rugby' as he opens up about health battle

Exclusive
Corby steelworks pictured in 1981

Families in former industrial town call for probe into rare child cancer after botched clean-up of steelworks

The stabbing happened on Ramsden Street in Huddersfield.

Man, 20, charged with murder after 16-year-old boy stabbed to death in Huddersfield

Donald Trump's 10% tariff on UK products has officially come into force

Trump tariffs come into force as global stock markets plunge deeper into the red

File photo dated 19-05-2024 of Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne lifting the Premier League trophy with team-mates.

Kevin De Bruyne to leave Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola calls him 'one of greatest midfielders to play in England'

Stock markets plummeted on Friday

Starmer 'pushing for Trump royal visit this year' as UK bids for US trade deal - after tariffs spark turmoil in markets

Tom Howard

British tourist killed after being struck by boulder on trek through Himalayas

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a car burns following a Russian missile attack that killed more than a dozen people, including children, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia kills 16 people including three children in missile strike on Zelenskyy's home town, with dozens wounded

Travel influencer Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, made an illegal visit to North Sentinel Island

Tourist who left Coke for world's most isolated tribe 'could have wiped them all out' - and police 'can't go collect can'