Gary Lineker sends message to new Match of the Day host as BBC make announcement

Gary Lineker has encouraged the next host of Match of the Day not to copy his own way of presenting but to “be yourself”, although admitted he has no insight into who is being lined up for the role.

Lineker will step back from the flagship Premier League highlights show next summer after 25 years in the anchor seat, although will stay on presenting live football until the 2026 World Cup final in the USA.

He described it as “an absolute joy and privilege” to have been the face of the “iconic” Match of the Day for so long. “All things have to come to an end,” he explained on the Rest Is Football podcast, which is set to be listed on BBC Sounds once a week going forward.

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Lineker will continue to host Match of the Day Top 10 episodes and likely the next two Sports Personality of the Year ceremonies but will leave the BBC for good in 2026. He said the corporation was shaping up new plans for Match of the Day and so it “made sense” to leave the show next summer.

BBC News revealed Lineker - who rakes in £1.35m a year for his work with the BBC - had actually wished to stay on hosting the show but was not offered the chance to. Both parties are said to be satisfied with the conclusion reached.

The BBC has refused to outline its precise plans for the football programme but announced it would share more details “in due course”.

Hinting at forthcoming changes, a statement added: “The show continually evolves for changing viewing habits bringing its unique and unmatched analysis and commentary across all platforms.”

Names such as Mark Chapman, Alex Scott and Gabby Logan have been ranked by bookmakers as among the favourites to land the presenting gig. Lineker insists he is none the wiser as to who will be his successor but indicated he has a preference, albeit would never share it.

“Obviously I don’t know who it’ll be, and I would never tell publicly my preference,” he said. “I don’t think that’d be the right thing to do – but whoever it is, I would say be yourself.

“I had to fill the ginormous shoes of a certain Des Lynam. I would say just be yourself and enjoy it, it’s a wonderful programme to be a part of. It was brilliant before I took over, and it will be brilliant after I leave.”