Gary Lineker, the renowned host of BBC’s flagship football highlights show ‘Match of the Day’, has expressed his relief at finally having a weekend to himself after a long and illustrious career in sports. This marks a significant change for Lineker, who has spent his entire professional life dedicated to football - first as an England player and then as a TV presenter for 25 years.
Lineker will be stepping down from his hosting duties at the end of this football season. His departure signifies not only the end of an era but also opens up new opportunities for him. Despite leaving 'Match of the Day', he isn't completely severing ties with BBC; he is already associated with some high-profile sporting events post his exit.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
“It’s the right time. I need to slow down a little bit and enjoy life. I mean, I still watch football all the time, I love it, but now I’ll have a weekend.
“I’ve never in my adult life had weekends. Ever. So I’m quite enjoying the thought of going out and having a bite on a Saturday night. And I might even go home and watch Match of the Day . . .”
Next chapter
Lineker's third professional chapter after football and TV presenting has already kicked off. He is now co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which stands as one of the most successful independent podcast production companies outside America. With hit shows like 'The Rest is History', 'The Rest is Politics' and his own show 'The Rest is Football', it seems that Lineker's influence in sports media continues to grow.
His football podcast, featuring Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, has been particularly successful with 19.6 million downloads and 66 million social media views during Euro 2024 alone.
Passing on the baton
Following Lineker’s departure from Match Of The Day, BBC announced Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates as successors who will share hosting duties for this popular show.
While fans may miss seeing Gary Lineker on their screens every weekend on ‘Match Of The Day’, they can look forward to hearing more from him through Goalhanger Podcasts. His departure from the show marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter in his career. Lineker's passion for football and sports media is evident, and it will be exciting to see how he continues to shape this industry in his new role.
