Gary Lineker: BBC Match of the Day host to leave at end of season

According to BBC News, broadcaster Gary Lineker is set to leave his role as the host of the popular football show Match of the Day after this season concludes.

The BBC is set to make an official announcement about his departure on Tuesday.

According to The Sun, which was the first to break the news, the presenter is expected to depart from the BBC following their role in covering the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

A spokesperson for Lineker has been contacted for a statement. The BBC's press team has chosen not to provide any comments.

In October, Lineker began discussions with the BBC's newly appointed head of sports, as his contract was nearing its expiration.

According to BBC News, Lineker was willing to continue hosting Match of the Day, but the BBC chose not to extend his contract for the program.

The 63-year-old has been the host of Match of the Day since 1999. By the time he departs at the conclusion of the Premier League season in May 2025, he will have served in this role for 26 years.

In an interview with Esquire magazine released earlier this month, Lineker acknowledged that he will eventually need to "take it easy."

Earlier this year, the host made light of rumors suggesting he might depart from the BBC. While beginning a Match of the Day episode, he humorously referred to it as his "last show." After a brief pause, he clarified, “before the international break.”

Lineker is one of the most recognizable hosts for the organization and the highest earner among its publicly listed salaries, taking home over £1.3 million annually.

He has also provided coverage for significant events such as the World Cups and European Championships on BBC, in addition to hosting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

During his tenure at the BBC, Lineker has collaborated with various sports networks, such as NBC in the US and BT Sport, which is now known as TNT Sport. He has also ventured into the podcasting world by co-founding Goalhanger, a production company that creates well-liked shows like The Rest is History, The Rest is Politics, and The Rest is Entertainment.

Alastair Campbell, one of the hosts of The Rest Is Politics podcast, mentioned that succeeding Lineker would be quite challenging, according to Sky News.

"Campbell mentioned that he’s a fantastic broadcaster and a really great person."

Lineker has officially signed a new contract and is set to depart from his role at the peak of the biggest football tournament in the world. However, finding someone to take over for a prominent host on such a well-known program always comes with its challenges.

Some fans have proposed that Mark Chapman, the host of Match of the Day 2, could take over the role. However, other sports presenters like Gabby Logan and Alex Scott are also popular contenders among fans for the position.

Lineker has faced criticism at the BBC due to his activity on social media.

He was temporarily suspended by his employers last year following a backlash regarding a statement he made about the UK's asylum policy.

The event prompted a reevaluation of the BBC's social media rules. The review decided that prominent presenters should be permitted to share their opinions on various topics and policies, but they should refrain from engaging in political campaigning.

Lineker referred to the new regulations as "quite reasonable" back then.

Prior to his work as a television host, Lineker enjoyed a highly successful career as a forward, representing England and playing for clubs like Leicester, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Barcelona.

Further contributions by Steven McIntosh, journalist covering entertainment.