Gary Lineker leaves “Match of the day”, an earthquake for the BBC and for English football

Match of the day is a legendary English television show, which has existed for 60 years on the BBC. Its historic presenter, Gary Linekerwill soon change, a real revolution in England. The former footballer, star striker in the 1980s and 1990s, will turn the page at the end of the season. If the excitement is so strong across the Channel, it is because this program is the clear summary, on the BBCPremier League matches, the same evening. The presenter is on set with two consultants and all the images of the day from the first division of English football. A meeting followed by 2 million viewers on average, a not so huge figure. But the show has existed since 1964, enough to establish the program in the landscape. The Premier League is sacred.

And Gary Lineker is the pope of this religion. The former player, who played for Leicester, Everton, FC Barcelona and Tottenham, made this shift to become a successful media man, it is the biggest contract on public television. More than a million and a half euros per year. He took charge of the show in 1999.

A free electron who criticized the conservative government on immigration

This decision would rather be from the BBC a priori. Officially, all this is done by mutual agreement. But the public channel must make savings and is thus relieved of a significant salary. And then Gary Lineker is a free electron, especially on social networks. He was briefly suspended last year after criticizing the Conservative government’s policy on migrants. It was on the front page of all the media for several days and the affair had taken a very political turnBBC employees being expected to keep quiet about their political opinions.

Lineker recently said in an interview that he would probably slow down his activities, he who also hosts a successful podcast. At 63, he intends to slow down a bit. He will therefore end the season with Match of the day and he will then lead the BBC for coverage of the World Cup in two years. We’ll see at that point if it really slows down or if it bounces elsewhere.