In an unexpected turn of events, former England striker Gary Lineker made a surprise appearance on Sky Sports during the North London derby. This comes as the broadcaster is preparing to launch a new series. Known for his illustrious career in professional football and later in media, Lineker's sudden presence on Sky Sports marks an exciting new chapter.
Since retiring from professional football, Lineker has enjoyed a successful media career that began as a pundit on BBC Radio 5 Live. He then became the main presenter of Match of the Day in 1999, holding this position until he left earlier this year due to sharing controversial content online.
Despite leaving BBC, Lineker continues to be an influential voice in football through his podcast 'The Rest is Football', co-hosted with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
New venture with Sky Sports
Lineker has never previously been associated with Sky Sports but made his debut as a guest on their new show called 'In The Box'. This innovative segment brings together celebrities, comedians and social media influencers who are drip-fed information about unfolding matches without knowing the result until full-time.
For its North London derby edition, Lineker represented Spurs alongside comedian Michael McIntyre while YouTuber ChrisMD supported Arsenal. Although known for being a Leicester City fan, it’s worth noting that during his playing career, Lineker made more than 100 appearances for Tottenham.
Engaging teaser
Sky Sports aired snippets from 'In The Box' during their Super Sunday coverage which prompted laughter from Thierry Henry and jokes from former Spurs striker Les Ferdinand about Tottenham fans' luck at not having watched the match live.
Former Tottenham striker, Les Ferdinand, said:
"Tottenham were that bad today. It's embarrassing to watch. Halfway through this game, I was hoping I could go in the box with Michael McIntyre.
“I didn't want to watch anymore.
"You can't come to Arsenal in the North London Derby and not put everything on the line."
Lineker's departure from the BBC at the end of the 2024/25 season led to a reshuffle in Match of the Day's presentation team, with Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan now sharing duties. This also means Lineker will not front BBC's coverage of next summer's World Cup.
However, fans may still see him at the tournament as The Daily Mail reports that he is set to sign an 'extraordinarily lucrative' deal with Netflix. Gary Lineker’s surprise appearance on Sky Sports marks a new phase in his media career. His involvement in 'In The Box' adds another dimension to his already impressive resume and offers sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts fresh insights into football from one of its most respected voices.
