Gary Lineker, the well-known face of Match of the Day for decades, has announced his departure from the BBC’s show. While he’s set to remain with the BBC in other roles, fans are left curious about what happened. His exit marks the end of an era for the popular program, leaving viewers wondering what’s next for Lineker.
Here is more about Gary Lineker’s exit from BBC’s Match of the Day.
Gary Lineker announces Match of the Day exit
Gary Lineker is leaving his role as host of Match of the Day at the end of this season. Although he will be leaving the iconic football show, Lineker will remain with BBC Sport. He’ll host the network’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup and the FA Cup for the 2025/26 season. The BBC confirmed that Lineker’s contract has been extended. This allows him to stay with the network through the World Cup in three years. Lineker expressed his excitement about this continued association, saying, “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.” (via BBC)
In addition to his World Cup and FA Cup commitments, Lineker will also continue his popular MOTD Top Ten podcast. The BBC will also begin airing The Rest is Football, a podcast he co-hosts with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, on BBC Sounds. This podcast, produced by Goalhanger Productions, covers the latest football news and personal stories from the hosts’ careers. It will now release one episode per week on the BBC’s platform.
Gary Lineker’s departure from BBC’s Match of the Day brings an end to his 26-year role on the show. It has garnered over 33 million viewers across the Premier League and FA Cup seasons. BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski emphasized that the program would evolve to meet changing viewing habits. Kay-Jelski said, “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.”