End of an era: Gary Lineker to leave BBC ‘Match of the Day’ after 26 years as presenter

Gary Lineker will leave his post as presenter of the football show “Match of the Day” at the end of the current season, the BBC announced on Monday.

It was in 1999 that the 63-year-old former striker took charge of this very popular show where he analyzes Premier League matches on set alongside various consultants.

Recently, Lineker had already hinted that he would say goodbye soon. “I look forward to continuing for at least another year,” he said at the time. “But at some point I’ll have to slow down. I’m also getting a little older.” He might be looking to focus on his podcast business full-time. According to the English press, however, he should continue to appear on the BBC until the 2026 World Cup.

In March 2023, Lineker was temporarily suspended after criticizing on his X account a Conservative government bill aimed at preventing illegally arriving migrants from seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, a project criticized until the UN.