The reasoning behind the BBC and Gary Lineker’s choice to half methods has been defined with each side of the equation feeling the timing is true for the presenter to depart Match of the Day.
Former England worldwide Lineker has fronted the flagship highlights programme since taking up from Des Lynam in 1999, having beforehand labored as a pundit on the present.
However Lineker will depart the present subsequent yr, with Lineker mentioned to be taking a look at leaving the BBC altogether following the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Gary Lineker’s Match of the Day departure fits all sides
An unidentified ‘BBC supply’ advised The Sun that the timing may go out for everybody given Lineker’s newfound enterprise pursuits and the company’s need to freshen issues up.
They mentioned: “Gary completely adores Match of the Day, and has been extremely comfortable on the BBC. He desires to go away on a excessive – and if England win the World Cup, it doesn’t get a lot greater.”
They go on: “It’s one of many business’s worst-kept secrets and techniques that the brand new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t precisely shut. The previous may be very eager to make his mark by bringing in new faces and slashing wage payments.
“Negotiations have been ongoing for the previous six weeks , and eventually a deal has been struck that everybody is happy with.
“Gary will probably be 65 when he leaves. Frankly, he isn’t getting youthful and simply feels the time is true to focus solely on his mogul pursuits exterior the BBC – specifically his Goalhanger podcasting enterprise which is turning into large Stateside.”
That steady of podcasts consists of the ‘The Relaxation Is…’ collection, with Lineker himself fronting The Relaxation Is Soccer alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. Steph McGovern and Robert Peston host The Relaxation Is Cash, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart do The Relaxation Is Politics, whereas Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland (not that one) deal with The Relaxation Is Historical past.
A brand new host for Match of the Day is but to be introduced, with a fleet of BBC regulars leading the early bookies’ odds to tackle the job as soon as Lineker departs.
The programme is presently celebrating its sixtieth anniversary having first gone to air in 1964.
