Gary Lineker reveals Sky Sports talks and confirms future plans after Match of the Day exit
Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match of the Day at the end of the 2024-25 Premier League season in May before leaving the BBC altogether following next year's World Cup
Gary Lineker says that he doesn't anticipate joining another TV company after his contract with the BBC ends in 2026. Lineker, 64, has also revealed that he previously held talks with Sky Sports, but wanted to remain 'loyal' to the BBC.
The former England striker is set to present Match of the Day for the final time this May, having hosted the BBC's Premier League highlights show since August 1999. Lineker will continue to lead their coverage of the FA Cup throughout the 2025-26 season before his 27-year stint with the corporation comes to an end at the World Cup final in the USA next July.
Lineker hasn't solely worked for the BBC during that time, as between 2015 and 2021 he presented Champions League football for BT Sport. The ex-Barcelona star cut ties with BT so that he could travel Europe with his sons and watch hometown club Leicester in the Europa League the following season.
But don't expect Lineker to become a regular on any other channel after 2026. "I don't think you'll see me doing much football, apart from the podcast [The Rest Is Football]," he told FourFourTwo magazine. "I'll do the odd thing, but I don't think you'll see me appearing regularly on another channel."
Lineker went on to reveal interest from Sky, who some of the biggest names in English football have worked for. "We've had talks with Sky at various points, but I always wanted to stick with the BBC," he confirmed.
READ MORE: Match of the Day changes slated by ex-Premier League chief as BBC urged 'listen to fans'READ MORE: BBC chiefs summon staff to crunch meeting on football coverage after Gary Lineker exit"I could have earned a lot more, though I know I've been well paid anyway, obviously. I've had offers to go elsewhere but I just loved being with the BBC, and also how it helps everything else you do.
"It's not only the kudos, the audience is much bigger. More people still watch Match of the Day than probably the biggest live game on Sundays.
"Also, I'm quite loyal. I've had the same guy cut my hair for 40 years, the same guy training me in the gym for 30 years, the same agent since I was 18."
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As for who'll replace Lineker on Match of the Day, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan will share presenting duties from the 2025-26 season. Long-time BBC presenter Chapman insists that viewers can expect the same kind of show as usual, just with a different face in the hot seat.
"Nothing different," Chapman said recently. "I know people keep saying, 'Oh this will change or that will change'. I genuinely don't think anything will change. It will still be showing all the highlights and having a bit of a chat.
"So, if you're wanting a lot of change, I suppose you're going to be a bit disappointed by it. I think we are still just going to do the same thing and talk about football and have a laugh and that will be that."
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