As Gary Lineker moves towards his final episode of Match of the Day, the Tottenham Hotspur and England legend revealed what he dislikes most about working on the BBC show
Gary Lineker has admitted that he will not miss the long journeys home at midnight when he departs Match of the Day. The Tottenham Hotspur and England legend’s time as the main host of the show will soon come to an end.
Lineker, 64, only has one more episode of the Premier League highlights show left before he hands over the reins to Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates, who will be sharing the presenting duties from the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The former striker’s time as host will not be completely over this month, though, as he will still present the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage next season as well as that of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
During his most recent podcast with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, the former England duo teased Lineker about his final show. It was there that he revealed what he did not like doing and what his future in football television will be like.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, when reminded about the fact his final show is on the horizon by Richards, Lineker said: “Of course I know that. Do you know who the pundits are on that show? You boys (Shearer and Richards)!
“I did my last Saturday night at the weekend, because the final day of the season is played on a Sunday.
“Yeah, it’s the last one. The last time I will have that journey back at midnight. I won’t miss that part of it… but I will miss you boys!”
Lineker has been on the show since 1999, when he replaced Des Lynam as host while the iconic broadcaster chose to move across to ITV. The former striker went on to make the position his own across more than 25 years of broadcasting for the BBC.
When it comes down to what involvement he will have with football after his departure from the BBC, former BT Sport host Lineker admitted that he cannot see himself working in the sport again. After Richards asked if he will continue to work in football, Lineker quickly replied: “No.
“I think, certainly, post World Cup final next year, I don’t think you’ll see me do much television. I might appear on a guest show or something like that.
“But I don’t think, football wise, I am going to do that anymore. I just want to go and watch football and enjoy it.”
During a recent appearance on the Stephen Hendry Cue Tips podcast, Lineker said that he will mainly be focussing on his broadcasting company ‘Goalhanger’, which has become one of the industry leaders in podcast production. Lineker said: “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… I really don’t envisage me doing TV much. Maybe, you know, occasional appearances on something, but not (what he was doing before).”
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