BBC chief sets record straight on Gary Lineker exit with presenter primed to leave Match of the Day

BBC culture and media editor Katie Razzall has claimed Gary Lineker wanted to stay with the corporation – but wasn’t offered a new contract for Match of the Day.

It emerged on Tuesday that the 63-year-old is poised to depart the popular football highlights show in 2026, after the next World Cup.

Lineker, whose current contract is due to expire at the end of the current campaign, will reportedly pen a brief extension.

But Razzall, per the Daily Mail, has claimed that the former footballer wanted to stay for longer – but wasn’t offered a new deal.

“Lineker was open to staying on at Match of the Day, but the BBC did not offer him a new contract for the show,” she said.

Lineker replaced Des Lynham as the host of Match of the Day in 1999 after his predecessor jumped ship to ITV.

While he’s been a big asset for the BBC over the years in the time since, the 63-year-old has also been no stranger to controversy.

Lineker was taken off air by the Beeb last year after airing his thoughts on the Conservative government, comparing their regime to those of Nazi Germany.

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He was later reinstated after fellow pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer made it clear they were firmly on his side, with MOTD boycotted.

Lineker has continued to split opinion within the BBC due to his outspoken nature.

Back in the summer, as England toiled at the European Championships, the ex-Three Lions star branded one performance as ‘s**t’.

Lineker has also continued to reserve his harsher views for his Rest is Football podcast, rather than Match of the Day.

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When it comes to possible replacements, Mark Chapman is widely seen as the frontrunner to take over.

The 51-year-old has been the main host of Match of the Day 2 for over a decade, while he’s also worked for Sky Sports on the EFL Cup.

Gabby Logan has emerged as a candidate, too, having been with the BBC ever since 2007.

And the likes of Alex Scott and Dion Dublin have been linked with the role as well, prior to the news of Lineker’s departure.

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Earlier in the year, Jermaine Jenas was widely seen as the natural successor to Lineker.

Lineker himself even provided his backing to the former Newcastle, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers star.

But the former footballer was axed by the BBC in August following complaints of inappropriate behaviour.

Jenas later admitted that he’d made mistakes during his marriage to wife, Ellie Penfold. He could be offered a TV lifeline by TNT Sports, who remain in his Instagram profile.

Lineker, meanwhile, recently hinted at his departure from MOTD by saying that he’s ‘getting old’.

When asked if he could prioritise his podcast, 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.”

Lineker has been the BBC’s highest-earner over the past seven years, with the veteran pocketing a huge £1.35million a year.