Former soccer star Gary Lineker is to step down from internet hosting BBC Sport‘s flagship Match of the Day program after 26 years on the helm.
The ex-Barcelona participant and England captain, considered one of many nation’s best-ever soccer gamers, will depart his put up on the finish of the present Premier League season having first taken on the position in 1999, however has prolonged his BBC Sport contract till 2026 when he’ll lead the general public broadcaster’s World Cup protection. He’ll proceed with MOTD‘s Prime Ten podcast and host The Relaxation is Soccer podcast.
Match of the Day is among the world’s most well-known soccer exhibits, airing on the BBC since 1964. It exhibits the highlights from Saturday’s Premier League matches throughout a late-evening BBC One slot and options common professional perception from friends equivalent to Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard, Micah Richards, Martin Keown, Danny Murphy and Theo Walcott.
Lineker, now 63, has develop into the face of BBC Sport and the company’s highest-paid presenter, incomes over £1.3 million ($1.67 million) yearly, and main World Cup, European Championship and Premier League protection for over twenty years.
Lineker mentioned: “I’m delighted to proceed my lengthy affiliation with BBC Sport and want to thank all those that made this occur.”
Director of BBC Sport Alex Kay-Jelski added: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our protection of the following World Cup and proceed to steer our reside protection of the FA Cup. After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We need to thank him for every thing he has achieved for the present, which continues to draw thousands and thousands of viewers every week. He’ll be massively missed on the present however we’re so completely satisfied he’s staying with the BBC to current reside soccer.”
A family title within the U.Ok., Lineker has in recent times been on the middle of controversy when he publicly in contrast, by way of X (then-Twitter), the Conservative authorities’s Dwelling Workplace immigration coverage to Nazi Germany. It led to the BBC clamping down on its social media guidelines for present employees as Lineker attacked the “immeasurably merciless” coverage that noticed the Tories try to cease asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats to enter Britain.
BBC Information reported that information of Lineker’s MOTD departure was first detailed in The Solar. The BBC additionally mentioned that Lineker was open to staying on at Match of the Day however the BBC didn’t supply him a brand new contract for the present when negotiations opened up in October.
The presenter has labored for different sports activities networks over his broadcasting profession, together with at U.S. community NBC and BT Sport (now TNT Sport).
Lineker is broadly considered a reliable and charismatic presenter because the search begins for his highly-anticipated substitute.