Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season after the BBC reportedly decided not to offer the presenter a new contract.
Lineker, 63, has fronted the highlights show since 1999 and is expected to remain on the BBC for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
As the BBC begins its search for a replacement for its flagship football programme, former England international Alex Scott, Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman and broadcaster Gabby Logan have all been linked with the role.
Former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer is also thought to be an early contender.
More left-field options are also in the running with bookmakers, including Jason Mohammed – previously of the BBC’s results programme Final Score – and Scottish sports broadcaster Eilidh Barbour.
While the future is uncertain, Lineker’s exit will bring to an end a turbulent recent relationship between the presenter and the BBC. In March 2023, Lineker was forced to take a brief hiatus after a row over whether his social media activity – and a tweet criticising the British government’s treatment of refugees – broke BBC rules surrounding impartiality.
He had previously worked on BT Sport’s Champions League coverage too, stepping down from that position in 2021 to follow Leicester City in the Europa League as a fan.
We asked i‘s team who should replace Lineker on Match of the Day.
Ally McKay
Sports editor
The most natural and charismatic host currently working in football broadcasting is Kate Scott (formerly Abdo).
Her recent marriage to American boxing trainer Malik Scott means she may not feel it is the right time to return to the UK from the States but if I were BBC bosses I’d offer her Lineker’s huge pay packet to breathe life into the tired MOTD format.
Oliver Young-Myles
Football reporter
James Richardson has been a hit with UK audiences since the halcyon Football Italia days in the 90s and his penchant for puns would be perfectly suited to the MOTD studio.
The European Goal Show was the best football programme on TV (until TNT spoiled it) in no small part because of AC Jimbo’s peerless hosting.
In fact, why not get the whole gang together and sign up Julien Laurens and James Horncastle too…
Favourites to replace Lineker
- Mark Chapman – 6-4
- Gabby Logan – 4-1
- Kelly Cates – 5-1
- Alex Scott, Eilidh Barbour – 6-1
- Jason Mohammed 8-1
- Kelly Somers – 9-1
- Dion Dublin – 14-1
Odds correct on 12 November
Kevin Garside
Chief sports correspondent
Match of the Day is so 20th century. The highlights format has shrunken to a goals show. That’s all most punters want to see. And they are available online half an hour after the final whistle. Time for a bot to take us through the card. Cheaper too.
Kat Lucas
Assistant sports editor
Alex Scott would upset all the right people but the real “box” she would be ticking is that she is a former England international who actually played the game, as opposed to just a presenter. Her CV is extensive: BBC, Sky Sports, fronting the Olympics, BT Sport and the rest but most importantly, her tactical insight often sets her apart on panels. She has the relaxed, moderate manner to replace Lineker without shaking up the format beyond repair.
Evan Bartlett
Deputy sports editor
From NFL to rugby league and football, Mark Chapman has proven himself to be the best sports presenter in the UK. Deep knowledge of his subject area and an uncanny ability to draw wisdom and insight from the most wooden of former pros makes this BBC stalwart the perfect choice.
Sam Cunningham
Chief football correspondent
Bradley Walsh. The guy is absolutely at the top of his presenting game.
He is sharp, funny, charming, experienced. As a former professional footballer, whose career was ended in his early 20s due to injury, he would bring a layer of understanding of the game. Let him turn his wit and humour on a game that can sometimes feel like it lacks it.
Matt Butler
Deputy sports editor
Rylan Clark. Wait, hear me out. His Estuary English and reality-show origins have typecast him as someone only suitable for superficial fluff, rather than something as important as 22 dudes kicking a ball. But in travelogues and TV commentary programmes he has shown he has a sharp wit and an easy-going style. And he’s a West Ham fan, so knows the misery of a true supporter.
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