‘A bit weird’ – Gary Lineker explains why he is leaving Match of the Day after 25 years & reveals whether he will still watch the show when a new host fills his shoes from 2025-26

After 25 years fronting the BBC’s flagship Premier League highlights programme, it has been confirmed that Lineker will be walking away when his lucrative contract expires at the end of the current campaign. A successor will have been put in place by the time that the 2025-26 seasons gets underway.

Speculation regarding Lineker’s future had been raging for some time, with MOTD now preparing to move in a “different” direction. Ex-England international Lineker is happy to pass the presenting baton on, with the 63-year-old accepting that the time has come for change.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said: “It felt like the right time. It came at a point really where the BBC and Match of the Day, they've got the rights for another three years, the cycle starts from next season. So it felt like if I just do one more year, it would be a bit weird.

“So I think to get a different presenter in place, I think would be probably wise on not just for me, but certainly for the BBC as well. But I really wanted to finish on a major tournament, do the FA Cup as well. So you've not quite got rid of me just yet.”

He added: “I bowed out my football career when I felt it was the right time and I feel this is now the right time. I think the next contract, they're looking to do Match of the Day slightly differently. So I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm.”

Quizzed on whether he has any words of advice for whoever is handed the MOTD reins, Lineker said: “Obviously I don't know who it'll be and I would never tell publicly my preference - I don't think that'd be the right thing to do, but whoever it is, I would say be yourself.

“I had to fill the ginormous shoes of a certain Des Lynam. I was the only person in the country that was pleased that he left for ITV because I thought I might get the job! So I would say, be yourself and enjoy it, it's a wonderful program to be part of. And it was brilliant before I took over and it will be brilliant after I leave.”

He went on to say: “I'll still watch Match of the Day, but I'll be in bed straight after it rather than the three hour journey home!”

Various candidates are said to be in the frame when it comes to taking over from Lineker at the Match of the Day helm. Mark Chapman and Alex Scott are reportedly among the frontrunners, while there are claims of Kelly Cates, David Jones and Gabby Logan also being considered.