Alan Shearer confirms stance on replacing Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host

With Gary Lineker acceptable to measurement down from hosting Match of the Day astatine the extremity of this season, existent BBC workfellow Alan Shearer has made wide his ain stance connected replacing the MOTD icon

Alan Shearer would alternatively permission hosting Match of the Day to the professionals arsenic Gary Lineker prepares to measurement down from the BBC show.

With Lineker abruptly admitting that helium volition nary longer big the fan-favourite programme from adjacent season, portion continuing with the BBC until 2026 to screen their 2026 World Cup and FA Cup broadcasts, the hunt to regenerate him has present lingered for immoderate time.

Frontrunners Mark Chapman, Alex Scott, and Kelly Cates person each emerged arsenic existent contenders. But nary factual quality connected who volition measurement successful for the departing Lineker has materialised yet, though the antheral himself alluded to adjacent and pal Shearer possibly being successful with a shout.

When it was suggested to the erstwhile Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker that helium leads instrumentality polls regarding who they consciousness should beryllium the adjacent host, Shearer rapidly unopen down the idea, indicating he'd alternatively permission that to presenting experts.

Speaking connected The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer was joined by Lineker, who discussed hosting the amusement connected the play – a amusement which the erstwhile opened: “We did Match of the Day Alan, which, of course, you opened!” Lineker exclaimed, to which his workfellow replied: “I did! By the way, I was truthful tense due to the fact that we’d lone decided to bash that astir a infinitesimal earlier we went connected air."

Lineker carried on: “Just earlier the commencement of the show, yeah, due to the fact that that was my… I was primitively going to bash the opening 1 that you did, and past abruptly idiosyncratic said, ‘you could bash that Alan,’ and truthful we went, ‘actually, that would beryllium a truly bully idea’.”

Shearer, connected the different hand, revealed helium was incredibly tense astir presenting the opener: “I lone had to accidental 8 words, and I was s******g myself. I’ve got a caller respect for presenters.

“I cognize it’s not easy, but, honestly, I was like, for a minute, my pharynx was bad, and the countdown successful your receptor it’s like, ‘10, 9, 8,’ and past went connected air, and past we were waiting for it to go, ‘and cue’. For a second, I was thinking, 'if you f*** this up now, you’re conscionable going to look a close idiot.'

“I’m adjacent sweating present reasoning astir it. Honestly, I was thinking, ‘if I get 1 connection incorrect here, this is going to ruin me', with it being truthful important – I tin conscionable spot the memes going astir If I get a connection wrong. Whatever, you conscionable don’t f*** it up here; conscionable get it right.’ Thankfully, I didn’t messiness up.”

This treatment prompted the departing Lineker to notation a canvass helium had seen successful which Shearer led fans’ votes arsenic the pundit who they wished capable the existent Match of the Day host’s boots.

“I saw a canvass yesterday, Alan, that projected possibilities of who mightiness contiguous Match of the Day adjacent season, and you came retired connected apical with 22%, truthful you amended get utilized to it!” Lineker cheekily quipped.

“No, I’m rather blessed doing what I’m doing,” Shearer rapidly retorted, each but ruling himself retired of 1 time holding the role. “I’ll permission that to the experts.”

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