Gary Lineker to Step Down as Match of the Day Host

Gary Lineker will step down as the host of the BBC’s flagship football show, Match of the Day at the end of this season according to BBC News. The BBC plans to officially announce his departure on Tuesday. The Sun which first reported the story, also claims that Lineker intends to leave the BBC after covering the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Lineker whose contract ends soon, began negotiations with the BBC’s new head of sport in October. Although he showed interest in continuing with Match of the Day, the BBC decided not to offer him a new contract. The 63-year-old, who has hosted the show since 1999 will mark 26 years as its host when he leaves in May 2025.

In a recent interview with Esquire magazine, Lineker acknowledged the need to “slow down at some point.” Earlier this year, he jokingly hinted at his possible departure, calling a Match of the Day broadcast his “final show” before quickly clarifying it was just before the international break.

As the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, Lineker earns over £1.3 million annually. Beyond hosting Match of the Day, he has fronted major football events like the World Cup and European Championships and has hosted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

Gary Lineker has also contributed to NBC and BT Sport and co-founded the podcast company Goalhanger. The BBC has already started searching for his replacement with Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott among potential candidates.

Lineker’s departure follows his brief suspension in 2023 due to a social media post on the UK’s asylum policy which led the BBC to review its guidelines on presenters’ political commentary.