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Gary Lineker to depart from BBC after 2024/25 season

Samira Vishwas | May 20, 2025 12:12 AM CST

Gary Lineker steps down from his role as the presenter of Match of the Day (MOTD).

Lineker has confirmed he will leave the BBC at the end of the current football season, ending a 25-year stint as the face of MOTD.

The former professional footballer announced his exit earlier today (May 19), with the decision attributed to his sharing of a social media post about Zionism, which included an illustration of a rat.

He said: “I recognise the error and the upset I caused,” stating that stepping back now “feels like the responsible course of action”.

In addition to leaving MOTD, Lineker will also step away from the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup and will not be involved in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the US, Canada and Mexico next year.

Lineker joined the BBC in 1999 and has become one of the most recognisable faces in British football broadcasting. His departure ends a run that saw him become the programme’s longest-serving host.

Lineker will likely return to broadcasting in some form. As BBC Culture Editor Katie Razzall noted: “I would not be surprised if he does appear in the future on TV, perhaps even as a presenter of the World Cup for another outlet.”

Change is Imminent

While Lineker has become a staple and familiar face in English football broadcasting, this marks a new chapter for the BBC and a potential opportunity to rethink its football output.

It was announced last week Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will rotate duties across the broadcaster’s football coverage.

The decision to divide presenting duties marks a significant shift for the programme. It will be the first time in MOTD’s 60-year history that hosting will be shared between multiple lead anchors.

Facing New Competition

However, it remains to be seen whether this new approach is enough to fight off increasing competition from digital platforms. MOTD now competes for attention with TikTok clips, YouTube deep-dives and highlight packages from rights-holders like Amazon and DAZN.

With younger audiences moving away from traditional TV viewing, the BBC faces mounting pressure to modernise. Some viewers may be surprised the broadcaster hasn’t brought in more sports influencers with strong connections to younger audiences.

This is a trend Sky Sports and other broadcasters have embraced, an example of this is Sky Sport’s Saturday Social, a show that features influencers offering insights alongside traditional pundits.

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