The Sun has reported that the football star will leave the show at the end of this Premier League season in May.
As the longest-serving host, Lineker has hosted MOTD for a whole quarter of a century, and let’s be honest, it’ll feel a little weird without him.
However, he won’t leave the BBC straight away after that, as a deal with the corporation means he’ll stay on to anchor its 2025/26 FA Cup coverage and the 2026 World Cup.
It’s expected Lineker’s departure will be officially announced tomorrow (12 November) by the BBC.
When approached by LADbible, a BBC spokesperson declined to comment.
Lineker is set to leave. (BBC)
The 63-year-old’s future at the show has been a little up in the air, with rumours circulating over the year about his career plans.
In a recent interview with Esquire, he seemed to drop a bit of hint as he said: “I could [leave]. Whether that will be the case I don’t know. At some point, I have to slow down somewhere… I’m getting old.”
But when he appeared on BBC Breakfast earlier this year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of MOTD, he seemed a little more relaxed about it all.
“It depends how long they want me, I suppose. I love doing it at the moment; I’ve still got another year left, at least. So we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” he said.
“Obviously it’s another change in football and television and the rights of the Premier League and stuff like that. All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it’s been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!”
Lineker will reportedly stay with the BBC until 2026. (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Lineker is one of the BBC’s best-known presenters and is the corporation’s highest paid stars of those whose salaries are declared.
The former England player rakes in over £1.3 million a year, so it’ll be quite the pay cut when he steps down.
Over the years, the star has of course presented coverage of huge tournaments like World Cups and European Championships for the broadcaster, as well as BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremonies.
But he has of course also been involved in controversy, due to his social media. Last year, Lineker was briefly suspended following backlash to a post about the UK’s asylum policy.
This then led to a review of social media guidelines at the BBC, which concluded that high-profile presenters should be allowed to express their views on issues and policies, but stop short of political campaigning.
LADbible has contacted Lineker’s reps for comment.
Featured Image Credit: The FA/The FA via Getty Images/Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League
Topics: BBC, Football, Gary Lineker, Sport, TV
Jess Battison
Ian Wright releases full statement explaining why he will quit BBC Match of the Day after 27 years
The Arsenal and England legend will leave the sport show after the season
Ian Wright has quit his role as a pundit on Match of the Day after 27 years.
The 60-year-old admitted this decision had ‘been coming for a while’ as he will exit the BBC show at the end of this football season.
Wrighty wrote on X earlier this morning (17 December): “After my debut show whilst still a player in 1997 and many more memorable years, I’ll be stepping back from BBC MOTD at the end of this season.
“I feel very privileged to have had such an incredible run on the most iconic football show in the world.”
The former England star added: “Anyone that knows my story knows how much the show has meant to me since I was a young boy. MOTD is my Holy Grail.
“On my first ever show, I told [presenter] Des Lynam, ‘This is my Graceland’. It will always be my Graceland and I will always be watching.”
BBC
After the Arsenal player retired from football in 2000, he went on to become one of the show’s regular pundits in 2002.
His statement continued: “I’m stepping back having made great friends and many great memories. This decision has been coming for a while, maybe my birthday earlier this year fast tracked it a little, but ultimately it’s time to do a few more different things with my Saturdays.
“I’m really looking forward to my last months on the show and covering what will hopefully be an amazing Premier League title race.”
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker was quick to react to the news of Wright’s exit, as he posted on X: “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work alongside you, Ian. One of my favourite people on the planet. Farewell my friend.”
Fans called the star ‘one of, it not the most widely loved ex-pro working in the media today’.
BBC Sport
Others call him ‘easily the most insightful pundit’ and ‘one of the most likeable people on TV’.
As well as being a pundit on Match of the Day and at many live national and international matches, he has also been a very vocal supporter of women’s football, actively championing the sport.
Head of BBC TV Sport, Philip Bernie, also commented on his exit as he said: “Ian has been a wonderful star player on MOTD since his first appearance over 20 years ago.
“His insight, wit and warmth have richly entertained and informed all those watching him.
“We will miss his unique style and presence when he goes at the end of this season, but we will be sure to give him the send-off he deserves.”
Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: BBC, Football, Sport, TV and Film
Jess Battison
BBC Sport deletes tweet mocking Wayne Rooney after request from Gary Lineker
The Match of the Day host didn’t seem happy about the Peaky Blinders joke
BBC Sport has deleted its tweet seeming to mock Wayne Rooney after a request from Gary Lineker.
Earlier today (2 January), the ex-Everton and Manchester United star was sacked as the manager of Birmingham City football club.
It seems to have been a bit of a rough run for Rooney with the team after failing to win 13 of his 15 games in charge.
And on New Year’s Day, the team lost again 3-0 to Leeds, so it looks like enough was enough.
Birmingham released a statement this morning announcing that results had not ‘met the expectations’ and that ‘change in management’ is in the club’s ‘best interests’.
And BBC Sport then had a rather savage way of announcing it too.
In a now deleted post, the account shared an edited snap of Rooney dressed as a member of the Peaky Blinders complete with the typical gloomy weather.
X/@BBCSport
With the popular BBC show set in Birmingham, it seems ironically fitting and the accompanying caption read: “By order of the Peaky Blinders, Wayne Rooney ahs been sacked by Birmingham City,” complete with a red cross emoji.
Ouch.
Fans were pretty confused by the post as some found it funny but others rather inappropriate.
And Match of the Day host Lineker wasn’t much of a fan either as he bluntly responded to the original post: “Delete this.”
The post was deleted from BBC Sport’s account not long after and the Walkers crisps man also deleted his own response.
Other posts from the account about Rooney today called his time a ‘nightmare’ and say ‘the plan failed’.
Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
Rooney released a statement following his sacking, thanking the club for the ‘opportunity to manage’ the team.
He did say, however, that he does ‘not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed’.
The former England player continued: “Personally, it will take some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16.
“Now I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.”
Well, in his wife Colleen’s Wagatha doc on Disney Plus, he did seem to have quite the interest in true crime and becoming lawyer so maybe he could use the time off to think about law school…
The BBC declined LADbible’s request for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images/Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Topics: BBC, Celebrity, Football, Gary Lineker, Sport, Twitter, Wayne Rooney
Jess Battison
Gary Lineker takes brutal swipe at Gareth Southgate with seven-word comment after England final defeat
Gary Lineker has made the most blunt assessment of England’s Euro final defeat
Football once again failed to come home last night, with fans all quick to point fingers following the heart-breaking result.
England lost 2-1 to Spain last night (14 July) in the Euro 2024 final, just when all of us thought that maybe, just maybe football was coming home.
Mikel Oyarzabal put the final nail in the England coffin, after substitute Cole Palmer grabbed an equaliser following Spain’s Nico Williams great finish that put La Roja 1-0 up two minutes after the half-time break.
Gareth Southgate has taken a lot of the blame following the result (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The Three Lions had some life left in them though as Declan Rice saw a late attempt cleared off the line, but it was all too little as England fans will have to wait another two years to see the side challenge for a major trophy again.
A lot of fans and pundits have been quick to shift the blame, with some like Jamie Carragher choosing to point their fingers at the players, while it seems like the majority have turned on Gareth Southgate.
Despite statistically being England’s most successful manager since Alf Ramsey, the 53-year-old has been under fire from pundits in particular following the Euro final loss – despite making two finals in their past three tournaments.
The players clearly love him, with fans around the country also being grateful for his contributions to the side, however, many think it may be time for him to move on.
It’s yet another England side that have fallen short. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand unloaded on the England boss, saying: “We said after the group stages, if you’re going to play the conservative side of things with the amount of talent we have in this squad, you have to win,
“Otherwise it will come down to it being absolutely dissected and looked at as being a negative approach,
“That falls on the manager’s toes. He sets this team out in a particular way to play.”
The 45-year-old added that the players are ‘too good’ and questioned why the team only started fighting after going a goal down, owing to the substitution of Ollie Watkins for Harry Kane.
However, the pundit with the harshest and most blunt analysis of the game was England’s fourth highest top scorer of all-time, Gary Lineker.
The Match of the Day host simply stated: “It is a victory for attacking football.”
Spain outclassed England on the pitch. (Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Another former England striker on Southgate’s case was Alan Shearer, who was also on commentary for the BBC last night.
He thinks the result marks Southgate’s final game in charge of the Three Lions, with the side ready to go that extra step further.
“He will know that they haven’t performed. They didn’t have enough energy or quality on the ball,” Shearer said.
“We would have loved to have seen him play more front-foot football. They have had another taste of it but you have to get over the line.
“First is first and the rest are nowhere, I’m afraid.
“I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game. From where he took over and where they are now.”
The former Newcastle player added that regardless of the style of football, you have to ‘get over the line’ when you reach a final, highlighting that it might be two finals in three years for England, but there are ultimately no wins to show for it.
“That will hurt him and maybe he will think it’s time for someone else,” Shearer concluded.
Featured Image Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Topics: Euro 2024, Football, Gareth Southgate, Gary Lineker, Sport
Joshua Nair
Fans stunned as Gary Lineker ‘makes brutal joke’ about Frank Lampard’s hair live on-air
Gary Lineker left fans in stitches as they watched the BBC’s Euro 2024 coverage
Viewers thought Gary Lineker should have picked up a yellow card after making a ‘savage’ joke about Frank Lampard’s hair live on-air.
The Match of the Day host, 63, was joined alongside the ex-Chelsea midfielder, 46, Alex Scott, 39, and Thomas Frank, 50, as they covered the Germany vs Hungary Euro 2024 game on Wednesday (19 June).
Frank Lampard, 46, was joined by Alex Scott, 39, and Thomas Frank, 50. (BBC)
The host nation picked up their second win of the competition after a 2-0 victory over their Group A rivals.
Goals from Musiala and Gundogan were enough to see off their opponents as Germany became the first team to make it into the knockout stages.
Now, during BBC‘s coverage of the match, their studio was situated directly in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, which also happened to be nearby a fan park.
The fan park itself, however, was not visible from the studio due to a big screen covering the area.
Lineker said: “I wish they’d take that screen down, then we’d see all the punters.
“But if they took the screen down, they wouldn’t be able to watch the game.”
Lampard responded: “The back of our heads… who wouldn’t turn up for that?”
The host then took it upon himself to destroy the former Chelsea midfielder for no reason at all.
Lineker dropped his savage joke about Lampard’s hair. (BBC)
“No one wants to see the back of your head these days, do they Frank?” Lineker savagely commented, and Lamps did not know how to react.
“Saw that..lampards face when he realises what lineker has just said,” one viewer commented.
“‘Hello darkness my old friend’,” joked another, as a third said: “Wasn’t that great to be fair.”
Gary Lineker has just absolutely done Frank Lampard on live TV 🤣 Lampard’s face is pure gold 😂
“Lampards face when the penny drops,” a fourth penned.
“That’s savage,” someone else wrote.
Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate has told to his players to block out the ‘outside noise’ as they hope to beat Denmark this evening (20 June) after a 1-0 win against Serbia on Sunday (16 June).
The England manager is hoping his team can get a second win to reach the knockout stages. (PA)
“There’s going to be a narrative around a player, a couple of players after every England game,” Southgate said.
“This is a different world to the one you experience at clubs. The players as a collective recognise that now after the last couple of days. We talked with them about it.
“It’s very rare at their club they’d win a game and experience what they’ve experienced over the last couple of days.
“I have to make sure I can guide them through that, let them understand it and recognise it’s the reality of our world but that we shouldn’t be thrown off track by it.
“We’re in a good position, we know we want to play better, there are lot of things we did really well and we move towards tomorrow’s game.”
