Gary Lineker breaks silence over Match of the Day exit as Roman Kemp lined-up as replacement

Gary Lineker has spoken successful item astir his exit from Match of the Day aft it was confirmed he'd beryllium stepping down from the BBC programme aft implicit 2 decades

Gary Lineker has opened up astir his exit from Match of the Day.

Lineker said hosting Match of the Day for much than 2 decades has been "an implicit joyousness and privilege", but that it is "the close time" for him to exit and "someone other to instrumentality the helm" arsenic the BBC look to marque changes to the programme. The sports broadcaster volition measurement down arsenic big of the shot highlights programme at the extremity of the play but volition proceed to contiguous sum of the FA Cup successful 2025/26 and the World Cup successful 2026, the BBC antecedently confirmed.

"It has been an implicit joyousness and privilege to contiguous specified an iconic amusement for the BBC, but each things person to travel to an end," Lineker said connected his podcast, The Rest Is Football. "It came astatine a constituent wherever truly the BBC and Match Of The Day, they've got the rights for different 3 years, the rhythm starts from adjacent play truthful it felt similar if I conscionable bash 1 much twelvemonth it would beryllium a spot weird."

The 63-year-old erstwhile England striker aboriginal added: "I bowed retired successful my shot vocation erstwhile I felt it was the close time. I consciousness this is present the close time. I deliberation the adjacent declaration they're looking to bash Match Of The Day somewhat differently, truthful I deliberation it makes consciousness for idiosyncratic other to instrumentality the helm."

Lineker refused to speculate who would beryllium taking his place, arsenic rumours grew astir Mark Chapman, the regular Match Of The Day 2 presenter, Football Focus big Alex Scott, and BBC sports sum presenter Gabby Logan. "Obviously I don't cognize who it'll be, and I would ne'er archer publically my preference, I don’t deliberation that’d beryllium the close happening to bash – but whoever it is, I would accidental beryllium yourself," helium said.

"I had to capable the ginormous shoes of definite Des Lynam. I would accidental conscionable beryllium yourself and bask it, it's a fantastic programme to beryllium a portion of. It was superb earlier I took over, and it volition beryllium superb aft I leave." Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and volition person presented the amusement for much than a 4th of a period erstwhile helium leaves successful May 2025.

"I look backmost and it’s been an astonishing experience, and I consciousness incredibly fortunate," helium said, earlier confirming helium volition inactive ticker Match Of The Day. Lineker said it was bully to beryllium leaving the amusement successful "really bully shape", describing the viewing figures arsenic "still truly competitory connected a Saturday night." "I bowed retired successful my shot vocation erstwhile I felt it was the close time. I consciousness this is present the close time. It's the flagship BBC Sports programme, hopefully, it ever volition be."

Lineker volition proceed with the MOTD Top Ten podcast alongside his The Rest Is Football podcast, which besides features BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. Richards described it arsenic a "sad day" to larn of Lineker leaving Match of the Day. "You've been successful the crippled for 25 years astatine the highest level, radical don’t bash that, and you've done that for 25 years," helium said connected the podcast.

"It is simply a bittersweet day, not conscionable for us, but for radical who person watched you implicit the years, due to the fact that you are a large of broadcasting. Yes, you're not leaving yet, but successful presumption of Match Of The Day, I conscionable privation to convey you truthful overmuch for everything you've done, not conscionable for me, but for everyone associated and who has watched you implicit the years."

Shearer described Lineker arsenic an "unbelievable player, playing astatine the highest level for years and years and years" and an "unbelievable presenter for years and years and years". The One Show presenter Roman Kemp is said to beryllium tipped for a "digital role" connected the programme pursuing Lineker's exit.

Roman is nary alien to football, having been a regular look astatine Soccer Aid implicit the years. A root told The Sun: "Match of the Day is moving with the times and adjacent play determination volition beryllium much of a absorption connected integer highlights. Alex [Kay-Jelski] has been speaking with Roman astir perchance coming connected committee and however it could work.

"Roman has a monolithic pursuing online and is hugely fashionable with a younger assemblage acknowledgment to his years hosting the Breakfast Show connected Capital FM. He is besides a immense Arsenal instrumentality and knows what helium is talking astir erstwhile it comes to football. "It is precise overmuch successful the aboriginal stages but Match of the Day is coming into a caller integer property and Alex would emotion to person Roman beforehand and centre."

The BBC said aboriginal plans for Match Of The Day would beryllium "announced successful owed course".

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