Gary Lineker, the former host of BBC Match of the Day, has decided not to return for a second season as a team manager on the popular TV show, Baller League. Despite an impressive first season with Deportrio club alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker reportedly did not develop a strong affection for the show.
Lineker, Shearer and Richards teamed up earlier this year to manage Deportrio under the Baller League banner. The trio excelled in their roles during the league phase of Baller League. They led Deportrio to top standings with seven wins, one loss and three draws - an achievement that saw them advance to tournament finals alongside other teams such as MVPs United managed by Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama; Angryginge's Yanited; and SDS FC overseen by YouTuber Sharky.
However, despite their successful run in the competition, Deportrio was eliminated in semi-finals by SDS FC. Sharky's side went on to clinch victory in season one with a narrow 4-3 win over MVPs United.
Unexpected departure
While Lineker appeared engaged throughout his tenure on the show, he has chosen not to return for its second season which launched recently. His departure has sparked speculation about what led him away from his managerial role at Baller League.
Baller League CEO Felix Starck shared his thoughts on talkSPORT about where it might have gone wrong for Lineker.
Baller League CEO, Felix Starck, said:
"We sat down and had a conversation with Gary - Does it make sense to continue or not?
"I think you have to fall in love with this project to continue because it consumes your time. It's very time-consuming. It's full of people who spend hours and hours [investing their time in it]. John Terry calls me every single week and complains that he's spending so much time, but then he says it's the best thing ever, it’s the best thing ever. I think with Gary, he has a lot on in his life; he has a very busy schedule, and if you don’t fall in love with it, you can't be with this game. It's really up to you."
Moving forward without Lineker
Despite losing one-third of their managerial team from last season with Lineker’s exit, Deportrio is moving forward under Richards' leadership who enlisted Daniel Sturridge’s help for this new chapter at Baller League. Their first match was against Wembley Rangers FC, Shearer's new side co-managed by England legend Ian Wright.
Interestingly, Lineker was present in the dugout for this match. However, he was there to provide support and not in any official managerial capacity.
While Gary Lineker's departure from Baller League is a significant change for the show and Deportrio club, it opens up new opportunities for other sports personalities like Daniel Sturridge. Fans of the show will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how these changes impact the second season of Baller League.
