Gary Lineker has said it is “the right time” for another presenter to take over presenting Match of the Day, as the BBC hopes to make the football program “a little different” in the future.
Earlier this week, Lineker announced that he will be leaving the show at the end of this season after 25 years as host.
A new four-year deal for the BBC to broadcast Premier League highlights will begin next season.
“I feel like this is the right time,” Lineker said of his decision. “Believe [with] the next [highlights] contract, they’re looking to do Match of the Day a little differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take over.”
After leaving Match of the Day, Lineker will remain at the BBC to front coverage of next season’s FA Cup and the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
Speaking on his The Rest Is Football podcast, he said this week’s announcement was “basically news of an extra year’s deal” for him at the BBC.
“I always thought next would be the end. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I’ve done Match of Day for 25 years. It’s been an absolute joy and a privilege to present such an iconic show for the BBC.
“But everything has to come to an end.”
The start of the new rights deal will provide a suitable time to make a change to Match of the Day, he added.
“He [rights] The cycle starts from next season, so I felt like if I just did one more year it would be a little strange.
“So I think having a different presenter would probably be wise not only for me but also for the BBC.
“But I really wanted to finish in an important tournament. [and] Do the FA Cup too. So you still haven’t gotten rid of me.”
Speaking to co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, he added that he will be 65 when he finishes his work at the BBC. “So it’s time to retire.”
‘A little crazy’ reaction
He thanked viewers for the messages he had received and noted that “many kind articles” had been published.
“I felt like I had died and I was looking at my obituaries early. But it’s nice. It’s been lovely. And everywhere I go, people say lovely things.
“It’s a bit like football: Alan and I, with England, you retired when you thought it was the right time, I retired from my football career when I felt it was the right time. And I feel now is the right time. right time.”
The former England striker joked: “During my football career I felt like I was born to be in the box. And then I had to really learn to be in the box. And to be honest, at my age, it won’t be that much until I is in a box.”
He said he would “probably get a little emotional towards the end” of his BBC career but is “pretty calm at the moment”.
“It’s been a little crazy and a little crazy,” he continued. “But I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal because he’s just a guy who’s done a TV show for a long time. It’s really nothing more than that.”
Lineker’s successor on Match of the Day has not been announced and he said he would “never publicly say my preference” to be the new host.
“But whoever you are, I would say be yourself… Just be yourself and enjoy it. It’s a wonderful program to be a part of.
“He was brilliant before I took over and he will be brilliant after I leave. So I would just say that, really: enjoy it, live it and be yourself.”
Lineker said he was now looking forward to going to bed earlier on Saturday night.
“I’ll go out to dinner, and you know what? Maybe I’ll go to bed before midnight. I’ll still watch the day’s game, but I’ll go to bed right after, instead of the three-hour drive.” home.
“So yeah, I look back and it’s been an incredible experience and I feel incredibly lucky.”
