‘Shockwaves!’ Gary Lineker to QUIT Match of the Day at end of season ahead of BBC ‘reboot’

BBC veteran Gary Lineker is set to end his time as a presenter on Match of the Day at the end of this season, it is believed.

The 63-year-old presenter will also fully step down from the BBC after the 2026 World Cup, with the ex-Spurs striker also fronting FA Cup coverage next season.

Lineker is expected to cash in on a substantial pay out after hosting Match of the Day for 25-years.

The 48-time England goalscorer built up a controversial career at the BBC after making a series of politically-charged comments that infuriated viewers and even led to his temporary suspension in March 2023.

Discussing the expected change, a BBC source told The Sun: “Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day, and has been incredibly happy at the BBC.

“But he has been at the helm since 1999, and by the time he leaves, he will have been at the Beeb for 30 years.

“He wants to leave on a high – and if England win the World Cup, it doesn’t get much higher.

“It’s one of the industry’s worst kept secrets that the new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t exactly close. The former is very keen to make his mark by bringing in new faces, and slashing wage bills.

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“Negotiations have been ongoing for the past six weeks and finally a deal has been struck that everyone is pleased with.”

The past several months have witnessed crazed debate over whether the football star was going to step away from MOTD.

After a leak last month which indicated that the presenter might quit the famed show during the season, Lineker mocked any speculation.

Additionally, speaking to Esquire Magazine, Lineker was questioned on whether he might step down from his role.

He said: “I could do. Whether that will be the case I don’t know.

“At some point, I have to slow down somewhere… I’m getting old.”

The star has previously been criticised for his controversial posts on social media. However, since then, he and BBC’s Director General Tim Davie have agreed on what he is permitted to publish online.

Amid the scandal, the BBC took Lineker off air for one episode after he compared the Conservatives’ asylum policy to Nazi Germany – until co-hosts Alan Shearer and Ian Wright would not host the football programme without him.

It is understood that the BBC has several “shake-ups” in store once Lineker departs from the programme, as a source said: “The BBC are desperate not to see figures haemorrhage and want to maximise on the show’s current popularity.

“They will bring in some exciting new measures over the next few years, whilst not reinventing the wheel.”

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