The sports broadcaster and former professional footballer has been hosting the iconic BBC show for 25 years but his future with the programme has come under increased speculation in recent months.
Lineker is now expected to relinquish his role as the show’s presenter at the end of the Premier League season next May, as reported by the Sun. The decision is expected to be officially announced by the BBC on Tuesday.
However, the 63-year-old is said to have signed a new 18-month deal to remain with the BBC which will see him anchor the Corporation’s coverage of the 2025/26 FA Cup as well as the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Lineker is currently the highest-paid presenter on the BBC – earning a yearly salary of £1,350,000 – but has endured a tumultuous relationship with the broadcaster at points in recent years.
The most high-profile incident occurred in March last year when Lineker was required to step back from presenting on the BBC for three days after he openly criticised the government’s immigration policy.
His social media post compared the Home Office’s migrant boat policy to Nazi Germany, sparking both widespread praise and criticism.
The decision led to a bizarre incident where the show was broadcast without presenters, pundits or its usual commentators when on-screen staff refused to appear on the show in a show of solidarity towards Lineker.
The 63-year-old was eventually allowed to return, but the broadcaster will now move in a new direction with its flagship football show after six weeks of talks.
Lineker, who told Esquire magazine in August that he will ‘have to slow down at some point’, is also the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which houses popular shows such as The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Entertainment.
The company has grown into one of the UK’s largest independent podcast firms and, in September, said its shows had already been downloaded more than 380 million times this year.
The broadcaster has his own football podcast with Goalhanger, The Rest Is Football, which he presents alongside Match of the Day regulars Alan Shearer and Michah Richards.
Speaking to the Sun about the move, a BBC source said: ‘Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day, and has been incredibly happy at the BBC.
‘But he has been at the helm since 1999, and by the time he leaves, he will have been at the Beeb for 30 years. He wants to leave on a high – and if England win the World Cup, it doesn’t get much higher.
‘Gary is incredibly popular with both players and viewers, and news of his departure will send shockwaves around the Corporation. In other words, no-one is immune from change.
‘Gary will be 65 when he leaves; frankly, he isn’t getting younger and just feels the time is right to focus solely on his mogul interests outside the BBC – namely his Goalhanger podcasting business which is becoming huge Stateside.
‘BBC execs, meanwhile, will be giving Match of the Day a reboot to keep it fresh in the wake of such a huge departure.’
Presenters Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman are two of the frontrunners to replace the former England striker.
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