Gary Lineker doesn’t see himself joining another broadcaster after his BBC contract concludes in 2026. At 64, Lineker has also disclosed that although he engaged in discussions with Sky Sports, his loyalty to the BBC prevailed. The ex-England forward is gearing up to host Match of the Day for one last time this May, having been at the helm of the Beeb’s Premier League highlights programme since August 1999.
Lineker will continue to spearhead their FA Cup coverage until the 2025-26 season and will conclude his remarkable 27-year tenure with the network at the World Cup final in the USA next July. His career hasn’t been exclusively tied to the BBC; from 2015 to 2021, he also fronted Champions League football on BT Sport. He parted ways with BT to fulfil his desire to travel across Europe with his sons and support his beloved Leicester City in the Europa League the subsequent season.
However, fans shouldn’t expect to see Lineker gracing other channels post-2026. “I don’t think you’ll see me doing much football, apart from the podcast [The Rest Is Football],” he shared with FourFourTwo magazine.
“I’ll do the odd thing, but I don’t think you’ll see me appearing regularly on another channel.”
Furthermore, Lineker revealed that there had been interest from Sky, a platform where many prominent figures in English football have served. “We’ve had talks with Sky at various points, but I always wanted to stick with the BBC,” he affirmed.
Lineker has been open about his career opportunities and loyalty, stating: “I could have earned a lot more, though I know I’ve been well paid anyway, obviously. I’ve had offers to go elsewhere but I just loved being with the BBC, and also how it helps everything else you do.”
He also highlighted the benefits of working with the broadcaster, adding: “It’s not only the kudos, the audience is much bigger. More people still watch Match of the Day than probably the biggest live game on Sundays.
“Also, I’m quite loyal. I’ve had the same guy cut my hair for 40 years, the same guy training me in the gym for 30 years, the same agent since I was 18.”
From the 2025-26 season, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan will be sharing presenting duties on Match of the Day. Mark Chapman, a long-standing BBC host, reassures fans that the show will retain its essence, saying: “Nothing different, I know people keep saying, ‘Oh this will change or that will change’. I genuinely don’t think anything will change. It will still be showing all the highlights and having a bit of a chat.
“So, if you’re wanting a lot of change, I suppose you’re going to be a bit disappointed by it. I think we are still just going to do the same thing and talk about football and have a laugh and that will be that.”
This article first appeared on The Mirror.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk