Gary Lineker has stated he believes it’s “the right time” for another presenter to take over the responsibility of hosting Match of the Day.
The BBC has signed a new 4-year contract to show Premier League highlights, and it’s set to make changes to the programmes format in the future.
Just this week Lineker, the BBC’s highest earner, announced he’d be leaving the show at the end of the season, by which time he will have been their host for 25 years.
He said “I always thought my next thing would be the end. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time”.
His podcast company Goalhanger Podcasts have signed a contract to broadcast The Rest is Football on BBC Sounds.
The presenter was subject to political controversy in 2023 when he criticised the Conservative government for their policy on asylum seekers.
He compared the language used by ministers with “that used by Germany in the 30s”.
Following the controversy, he was briefly taken off air, fellow pundits including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, refused to appear on Match of the Day in solidarity.
For the first time in it’s history Match of the Day aired highlights with no presenters or pundits as they showed solidarity with Lineker.
It is still unknown who the next presenter will be, some are calling for it to be one of his current co-hosts, some are calling for Gabby Logan to be made the show’s first female anchor, but only time will tell.