The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has officially confirmed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will be taking over as hosts of the popular football programme, Match Of The Day. This announcement comes as Gary Lineker prepares to step down from his role at the end of the current Premier League season.
Lineker's departure marks a significant change for the show. However, he will continue to contribute to BBC's sports coverage through his work on FA Cup and World Cup broadcasts. Additionally, Lineker will remain involved with the MOTD Top Ten podcast and 'The Rest Is Football' podcast on BBC Sounds.
Cates, Chapman and Logan are set to bring fresh energy into their new roles while maintaining their commitments elsewhere in broadcasting. Cates will continue her work with Sky Sports alongside her appearances on BBC. Similarly, Chapman and Logan will carry on with their other programming duties.
Experienced hosts take charge
Both Chapman and Logan have previously fronted Match Of The Day episodes; however this is a first where lead presenter duties are shared by three hosts. They become only the sixth set of main presenters since its inaugural broadcast in 1964.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said:
“I know viewers will love these three incredible broadcasters and journalists at the heart of our football coverage next season. They’re brilliant at what they do and Match of the Day viewers can be sure they will be well looked after as the big football talking points are expertly analysed.
“Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 26 years, he’ll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football’s greatest tournaments. Outside of Match of the Day we’ve got some great new shows, voices and surprises lined up for the 2025/26 season across audio, video and digital and we look forward to sharing them with you all later in the year. It’s a truly exciting time for BBC Sport’s football coverage.”
Chapman has been a regular host on Match Of The Day 2 and Champions League programmes while Logan is well-known for being one of the faces of BBC’s athletics coverage among other things.
Working alongside renowned pundits
The newly appointed trio won't be alone in delivering top-notch football analysis; they'll be working alongside an impressive roster of pundits including, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Alex Scott, Jason Mohammad, Kelly Somers, John Murray and Steve Crossman
All three editions of Match Of The Day - including 'Match Of The Day', 'Match Of The Day 2', and 'Match Of The Day Champions League' - are produced from dock10 Studios in MediaCityUK.
The appointment of Cates, Chapman and Logan as the new faces of Match Of The Day is a significant moment for the programme. Their collective experience and unique perspectives promise to bring a fresh dynamic to the show while maintaining its tradition of high-quality football coverage. As sports fans eagerly anticipate the next Premier League season, they can look forward to engaging commentary and analysis from this talented trio on Match Of The Day.
