After it was confirmed that Gary Lineker would be leaving his role as the presenter of Match of the Day after 26 years in the role, the BBC have been left with the task of finding a replacement.
Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a reported salary of around £1.35million and his exit will close a long chapter for one of the nation’s most iconic shows.
He will be staying with the broadcaster, but, on Wednesday, it was announced that he had also quit his role as presenter of the BBC’s annual awards show, Sports Personality of the Year.
But who will replace him in the Match of the Day hot seat? The likes of Mark Chapman and Alex Scott are among the favourites, while a left-field shout could come into the running too.
Some of Mail Sport’s reporters have their say on who they would like to take the lead role.
Gary Lineker will leave his role as Match of the Day presenter after 26 years next year
The BBC have now been tasked with finding a replacement for the veteran for next season
One of the front-runners is Mark Chapman (right), who presents Match of the Day Two
Riath Al-Samarrai
KELLY CATES. An easy manner, an established presence and a proven ability to steer conversations to the most insightful and entertaining places. Her knowledge of the game is exceptional, as is her subtle handling of robust individuals, and has been ever since the days when Graeme Souness would rock up at the Dalglish home to argue about football’s minutiae. Joining in and keeping them quiet was suffient proof that she can be an excellent successor to Lineker.
Isaan Khan
As host of Match of the Day 2, MARK CHAPMAN has made the show his own. Chapman has a relaxed style which ties in well with Match of the Day. It is also the safest option.
Filling in the boots of Lineker is a big feat, so the candidate arguably needs to both hit the ground running straight away and be a sure hit. Chapman would know exactly what to expect, having hosted the spin-off version, and be up to the task.
Joe Bernstein
The list of usual suspects isn’t very inspiring – does anyone want to see even more of the omnipresent Chapman or Scott?
I think the Beeb should look outside to differentiate Match of the Day from the rest of their output. Personally, I’d poach SIMON THOMAS from Sky Sports. Likeable, knowledgeable, he’s also got experience of looking after a telly institution – he started out presenting Blue Peter.
Kelly Cates (left) and Jacqui Oatley (right) could be considered to fill Lineker’s boots
Mail Sport’s Joe Bernstein has suggested that Simon Thomas should be poached from Sky
Tom Collomosse
JACQUI OATLEY. The role needs a trained broadcaster in the hot seat, not a former player. With three former players in the studio, the atmosphere becomes too chummy, excluding the viewer. With two decades’ experience covering football from many different angles, Oatley has a relaxed, confident manner with the viewer and has the right rapport with pundits – friendly, but keeping the necessary distance too. She would be the perfect choice.
Matt Barlow
MARK CHAPMAN is the best around. I don’t dislike Lineker but prefer Chapman’s unpretentious style on MOTD2. He presents well, knows the game and his journalistic instincts and layman’s stance eke more genuine insight from his analysts.
Craig Hope
Of the leading contenders, I’d say Chapman is the most capable and would do a very good job. But I’d go left-field (it won’t happen) and get JAMES RICHARDSON. His style is very conversational, he’s witty and he would help take the show in a slightly different direction. The analysis has become too linear. For me, this is a chance for the BBC to shake up the format a little.
Molly Clayton
I’d like to see a bit of Hollywood glamour in the Match of the Day studio. And no one screams it quite like RYAN REYNOLDS. The actor has recently become invested in football after he bought Wrexham in 2020. He’s got the passion, the likeability and, of course, the looks.
Ryan Reynolds could provide a bit of Hollywood glamour in the Match of the Day studio
Laura Woods’ reliability could make her a candidate to take over in the hotseat
Katie Hind
Men love her, women love her and she was the most fantastic revelation on ITV during last summer’s Euros. Having immersed herself in sport since she was a young girl, LAURA WOODS has the most brilliant knowledge of football which has made her a voice of authority in the sports media.
What makes her unique is her relatability. Dagenham-born Laura doesn’t patronise her viewers, she warmly informs them, which is why I think Laura Woods must be Lineker’s successor.
Kieran Gill
A friend suggested RICHARD OSMAN and now I can’t get that brilliant idea out of my head, though we would risk having Fulham on first every Saturday. If I had to be more realistic, I’d side with Chappers.
Universally liked, never seeks to make it about himself and engaging as a presenter, as anyone who listens to BBC 5Live will attest. I love MOTD and just hope they don’t hire some sort of influencer to ‘get down with the kids’. It ain’t broke so don’t try to fix it with a poseur.
Dominic King
This isn’t a question of who can replace Lineker because, as was the case with Des Lynam, he is in his own way is irreplaceable. The BBC will never find someone who could broadcast in Lineker’s style and it also wouldn’t work for them to try to find a carbon copy of Lineker. This is a new era for a much-loved show and must be embraced.
The idea that BBC need a young face to attract a younger audience is piffle. When we were kids, nobody wondered how old Lynam and Jimmy Hill were – we listened to them because they were outstanding and you wanted to hear what they said. What MOTD needs is a quality broadcaster and the search should begin and end with the faultless MARK CHAPMAN.
Match of the Day II always has the right pace and tone when Chapman is in the chair and there is nothing he doesn’t know about sport. To emphasise his quality, watch the Champions League Goals Show on BBC – it’s everything a highlights programme should be.
Richard Osman could be a left-field should and would provide a unique insight on the show
Chapman, however, seems the most likely to take over, which would surely be welcomed
Ian Ladyman
MOTD occupies a unique place in our sporting TV schedule. It has a unique feel. If the BBC attempt to move it away dramatically from that, it will in all likelihood backfire. MARK CHAPMAN is an excellent and natural broadcaster and the most obvious like for like replacement for Lineker that we have.
Sami Mokbel
MARK CHAPMAN is already part of the BBC’s fabric and has the valuable asset of familiarity with the viewer. A super broadcaster who deserves the gig.