Gary Lineker says ‘right time’ to leave Match Of The Day as BBC plan changes

Gary 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 astatine 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 aboriginal added: “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.

“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.