Gary Lineker’s time as host of Match of the Day is coming to an end and the England and Tottenham Hotspur legend already knows where he will be focussing his attention
Gary Lineker has admitted that he can’t see himself doing much television work once his role with Match of the Day comes to an end. The Tottenham Hotspur and England legend will stop presenting Premier League coverage on the highlights show at the end of the season.
Lineker, 64, will be leading the BBC’s coverage of live FA Cup football as well as the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States of America before walking away from the Beeb. The 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner replaced Des Lynam in 1999 and made the role his own over the course of 26 years.
However, the Leicester native admitted that he prefers to watch football and other sport from the comfort of his own home, rather than the television studio. He is also the co-founder of media company Goalhanger, which has become a prominent force in podcast production.
As well as presenting ‘The Rest is Football podcast’ which he mainly works on alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, his company also has other podcasts such as ‘The Rest is History’ and ‘Empire’. Lineker believes most of his focus will be paid towards his media company rather than television.
While speaking to snooker legend Stephen Hendry on the star’s ‘Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips’ podcast, Lineker was asked about what, if any, media work he will do once his time with Match of the Day comes to an end. He replied: “Podcasts really.
“We’ve got a podcast, a ‘Podcast empire’ we like to call it. But, I mean, it’s amazing. So, I’m definitely focussed on that now.
“Unless something (comes up) I really don’t envisage me doing TV much. Maybe, you know, occasional appearances on something, but not (what he was doing before).”
When asked if he will continue to watch sport at home, despite no longer being involved in it, the ex-England striker, who contributed 48 goals in 80 caps for the Three Lions, replied: “Oh yeah, I love watching football.
“I find it much nicer watching football at home in the studio. I love watching it. I love the sport, I love watching lots of sports.
“I watch a lot of snooker and I watch a lot of golf. This time of year is the best period for sport: the finale of the football season, the start of cricket, the snooker World Championship and the Masters.”
Lineker will be replaced by a tripartite of presenters who will take turns anchoring Match of the Day. BBC television and radio host Mark Chapman, BBC presenter and former gymnast Gabby Logan and Sky Sports television presenter Kelly Cates will all fill Lineker’s shoes.
Explaining his decision to walk away during an episode of the Rest is Football podcast back in November, 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.”
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