Gary Lineker to leave Match of the Day: Take a look at his football career in pictures

Gary Lineker has presented Match of the Day for 25 years

After 25 years of presenting BBC Match of the Day, Gary Lineker will be stepping down as the host of the football show at the end of this season.

The BBC has said that Gary is "stepping down from hosting Match of the Day at the end of this season".

However, it has been announced that he's agreed in principle to extend his contract at the BBC through to the 2026 World Cup, where he will lead the coverage of the tournament. He will also host BBC Sport’s coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025/26 season.

Gary Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”

Starting out as a footballer, Gary Lineker has had a long career in the sport. Keep reading to find out more.

Who is Gary Lineker?

Gary Lineker has hosted Match of the Day for 25 years!

But before that, he had a successful football career of his own.

Lineker started his football career in 1978 playing for Leicester City where he was the First Division's joint top goal scorer in 1984-85.

Lineker was the 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner. He was also the top goal scorer in England when he played for Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst playing football, he never received a yellow or red card. In his senior career of 16 years and 654 games, he scored a total of 331 goals. He played for Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, and Nagoya Grampus Eight, as well as representing England.

Despite his successful career in football, which was at its peak at the 1986 and 1990 World Cup Finals, Lineker always knew he wanted to get into journalism when his career ended.

After retiring from professional football, Lineker started working in media. He initially worked on BBC Radio 5 live and as a football pundit (someone giving opinion on sport). He also began to build his TV career.

After a few years in the media, he started to appear on Match of the Day as a pundit. By 1999 he was hosting the show.

In March 2023, he was briefly taken off the show by BBC bosses after a disagreement between Lineker and the BBC over what he is allowed or not allowed to say on social media. This was after Lineker made comments criticising the government's immigration plans.

Other than that short break, for the past 25 years he has hosted Match of the Day, guiding millions of fans though the ups and downs of football. He is a well known presenter in the sport and has fronted many major football tournaments alongside former footballer, Alan Shearer.

But now Lineker's departure from Match of the Day is on the cards, who will fill his boots as the new presenter?

Let us know your thoughts below.