Gary Lineker to leave BBC’s Match Of The Day at the end of the current football season
Gary Lineker is to leave Match Of The Day after 25 years, Sky News understands.
The former England striker will step down at the end of the current football season in May 2025.
It is understood he will stay at the BBC until the end of the next World Cup which is being held in the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
Lineker has hosted the Premier League highlights show since 1999, after his predecessor Des Lynam moved to ITV.
But the 63-year-old may stay on at the BBC after 2026 working on podcasts.
The presenter is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which produces popular shows The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Entertainment.
The company, founded in 2014, claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast firm, and said in September that its podcasts had been downloaded more than 380 million times this year so far.
Lineker presents his own footballing podcast with Goalhanger alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
He was briefly removed from Match Of The Day in March 2023 following controversy over comments he made on social media criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policies.
The row prompted the BBC to launch an independent review of its social media guidelines and Lineker returned to screens soon after.
Lineker has been the broadcaster’s highest-paid star in recent years for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year.
He received around £1.35m during the 2023-24 financial year, according to the BBC’s most recent figures.
The BBC has said it is not commenting on the matter.
It is unclear who will take over from Lineker on Match Of The Day. Former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Jermaine Jenas was considered to be his natural successor but he was sacked from the BBC in August over claims of inappropriate behaviour.
Ex Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell, who presents The Rest Is Politics with former Conservative MP Rory Stewart, said Lineker would be “a very hard act to follow”.
“He is an excellent broadcaster and a very good guy,” Campbell said.
The political commentator also joked that Lineker “sees me as his natural successor… as long as I’m allowed to wear my Burnley ties”.
Before moving into broadcasting, Lineker enjoyed a successful career as a striker, winning 80 caps for England. He also played for Leicester City, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.