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The end of an era is approaching with the confirmation that Gary Lineker will step aside as presenter of ‘Match of the Day’ when the Premier League season draws to a close in May. The longest-serving host of the BBC’s flagship football show since it first aired in 1964, Lineker will leave the role after what will have been 26 years in the hot seat.
Although he will still front the broadcaster’s 2025-26 FA Cup and 2026 World Cup coverage, Lineker was not offered a new contract to continue as host of the weekly highlights show beyond the end of the current campaign, despite being open to staying on.
Now, attentions immediately turn to who will replace the man who was the highest-paid person at the BBC, earning more than £1.3 million per year. Finding an able successor for the charismatic, modern face of the most popular football show in the country will be no mean feat.
One previously well-fancied candidate who is now off the table is Jermaine Jenas, who was sacked by the corporation in the summer over inappropriate workplace behaviour.
If the BBC is looking to keep costs down, they may look in-house – but if they want to make a statement, will they go out and poach a big name from elsewhere? GOAL assesses their options…
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Getty Images SportMark Chapman
The ‘Match of the Day 2′ presenter may well be seen as the natural successor to Lineker on the Saturday night show. Mark Chapman has worked for the BBC for close to 30 years and has a good rapport with the highlights show’s roster of pundits, as well as being a confident on-screen presence.
However, the broadcaster’s chiefs may be remiss to potentially lose him from their rugby, NFL and radio coverage, with Chapman something of a jack of all trades. He also presents Sky Sports’ Carabao Cup coverage.
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Getty Images SportMicah Richards
Probably the most popular pundit in the industry at the moment, Micah Richards has been a regular on MOTD alongside Lineker since officially retiring from playing in 2019, and the current incumbent has even said he would “love” to see the ex-Man City defender take over.
Richards’ huge personality and jovial manner would certainly make him a welcome appointment for viewers, but his lack of presenting experience and commitments to both Sky Sports and CBS would complicate matters.
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Getty Images SportGabby Logan
Another all-rounder and a stalwart of the BBC’s sport coverage, Gabby Logan has deputised for Lineker on multiple occasions down the years and would have no problem stepping into his shoes on a permanent basis.
She is into her 17th year with the corporation and recently dovetailed with Lineker on coverage of Euro 2024 in Germany – a reflection of how highly she is regarded at the corporation, for whom she also presents rugby and athletics. Logan is also among the presenters of their new Champions League highlights show while being the host of Amazon Prime’s coverage of both the European competition and the Premier League.
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GettyAlex Scott
One of the newest members of the BBC Sport team, former Arsenal and England defender Alex Scott has worked as both a pundit and a presenter across the broadcaster’s football output since retiring from playing in 2017.
She has built up plenty of experience having fronted the preview show Football Focus since 2021 – an appointment that received a backlash simply because she is a woman – and she also leads the BBC’s women’s football offering. However, it has been reported that Scott’s relationship with the BBC has become strained over viewing figures.
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GettyLaura Woods
Arguably the most sought-after up-and-coming British sports presenter in the industry at the moment, Laura Woods would be a statement appointment for the BBC as they prepare to lose their longest-serving MOTD presenter of all time.
Woods certainly has the sense of humour and personality to match Lineker’s, but the deal could be complicated given she is on a huge contract at TNT Sports as their lead Champions League presenter and she will soon be going on maternity leave with her first child on the way.
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GettyJason Mohammad
A lesser-seen but reliable member of the BBC Sport presenting team, Jason Mohammad would be a safe pair of hands to replace Lineker but is probably an outsider for the role given the other in-house options.
Mohammad hosts live results show Final Score on Saturdays and has regularly deputised for both Lineker and Chapman on MOTD and MOTD 2 down the years. He presents rugby, too.
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Getty Images SportKelly Cates
Kelly Cates – daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish – has become one of the faces of Sky Sports’ coverage down the years across two spells and boasts an extensive portfolio of presenting work.
Although she has never appeared on BBC television, she is a regular on the broadcaster’s 5 Live radio station and has often hosted live Premier League action for Sky. Interestingly, she has endorsed Chapman or Logan for the role.
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Getty Images SportAlan Shearer
Another long-serving member of the BBC Sport team who has been a regular on MOTD since hanging up his boots in 2006, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has come on leaps and bounds as a pundit and has an excellent on-screen rapport with Lineker and Richards in particular.
Whether he could turn his hand to presenting remains to be seen, but it would be little surprise if he was under consideration to become the next ex-England striker to front the show.
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Getty Images SportKelly Somers
Another outsider for the gig, Kelly Somers specialises as something of a roaming, on-the-ground reporter for BBC Sport, including at the England camp at recent tournaments, though she has presented MOTD in the past in Lineker’s absence.
That was way back in August 2020, however, so it might be considered something of a leap for Somers to take the job full-time – although she has built up experience as part of Channel 4’s Three Lions coverage, as well as the BBC’s Women’s Football Show.
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