Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match Of The Day at the end of the season but Sky News can reveal he has already left the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year (SPOTY) presenting line-up.
It is also understood that Lineker will earn significantly less than the £1.35m he banked as the BBC’s highest disclosed annual earner under the terms of a new deal.
The 63-year-old will continue to host coverage of the FA Cup in 2025/26 and the World Cup in 2026, the broadcaster announced.
Lineker will also still provide the BBC with the MOTD Top Ten podcast that is produced by his own Goalhanger production company.
It was also announced that Goalhanger’s The Rest Is Football podcast, which features BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will feature on BBC Sounds. But Sky News understands only one ad-free episode per week will be on BBC Sounds, rather than every episode.
The former England footballer said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”
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Sky News has learnt Lineker has already stepped down from the SPOTY awards. Pic: PA
Lineker did not explain in his own brief statement why he is leaving Match Of The Day, which he started hosting in 1999.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.
“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week.
“He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”
In response to a Sky News question about SPOTY, the flagship annual sports awards show, a BBC Sport spokesperson said: “We can confirm Gary has decided to step down from the team presenting BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.
“After 23 years last year’s 70th anniversary was his final show.”
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Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and Lineker, who present the podcast The Rest Is Football. Pic: AP
Lineker has hosted the Premier League highlights show Match Of The Day since 1999, after his predecessor Des Lynam moved to ITV.
He is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which produces popular shows such as The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Entertainment, as well as his own football podcast.
The company, founded in 2014, claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast firm and said in September its podcasts had been downloaded more than 380 million times so far this year.
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Lineker has been the BBC’s highest-paid star in recent years for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year, as well as coverage of major tournaments including World Cups and European Championships.
He received about £1.35m during the 2023-24 financial year, according to the BBC’s most recent figures.
Lineker is one of the BBC’s most famous presenters
It is unclear who will take over from Lineker on Match Of The Day.
Former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Jermaine Jenas had at one point been considered to be his natural successor but he was sacked from the BBC in August over claims of inappropriate behaviour.
Lineker enjoyed a successful career as a striker, winning 80 caps for England, before moving into broadcasting.