Gary Lineker got really emotional as he said goodbye on his last episode of Match of the Day after being the host for 26 years. He officially left the BBC, where he had been a big part of football coverage.
In November, he announced that he would leave the show at the end of the Premier League season, which wrapped up on Sunday. He was supposed to stay with the BBC to cover the men’s FA Cup and the World Cup, but after apologizing for sharing a post that many found offensive, he decided to leave the BBC for good.
On his final show, Lineker hinted at the controversy by saying, “it wasn’t meant to end this way,” but then he turned it into a joke about the last day of the season.
At the end of the show, his friends Alan Shearer and Micah Richards surprised him with a special cap and a golden boot. Lineker expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s been an absolute privilege to have hosted Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It’s been utterly joyous.” He thanked the entire production team and, looking straight into the camera, he said, “Thank you for watching, thank you for all your love and support over the years. It’s been so special, and I’m sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye.”
Gary Lineker took over as the main presenter of Match of the Day in 1999, replacing Des Lynam. He became the highest-paid presenter on the BBC. However, he often shared his thoughts on social media, which sometimes got him into trouble.
In 2023, he was suspended for a post about the government’s asylum policy, and many of his colleagues showed their support by walking out. After he was allowed to return, the BBC made new rules about what presenters could post online.
Earlier this month, Lineker faced criticism again for sharing a post about Zionism that included a picture of a rat, which is a symbol that has been used in a hurtful way against Jewish people. He apologized, saying he didn’t see the image and would never intentionally share anything antisemitic. But soon after, it was announced that he would leave the BBC sooner than expected, making Sunday’s show his last.
In a statement, Lineker said that football has always been a huge part of his life and that he cares a lot about the game and his work at the BBC. He acknowledged that he made a mistake and said, “Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.” The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, thanked Lineker for being a key voice in football coverage for over 20 years.
On his last episode, Lineker interviewed Liverpool manager Arne Slot as they celebrated winning the Premier League trophy. Slot thanked Lineker for being a fantastic presenter of a show he watched many times when he lived in Holland.
The show started with a fun montage of Lineker’s goals from his playing days and looked back at his time on Match of the Day. One memorable moment was when he presented the show in just his Leicester City boxer shorts after his favorite team won the Premier League in 2016.
His longtime friends Shearer and Richards also shared their thoughts, introducing clips from famous footballers and even singer Andrea Bocelli. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said, “You don’t believe it but you will be missed,” while Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk called him “a legend.” Shearer added, “You’ve been great to me and you’ve been unbelievable to Match of the Day. So whatever you choose to do on Saturdays, good luck, and we’ll miss you.”
In January, it was announced that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan would take over as presenters of Match of the Day starting in the 2025-26 season. Lineker wished them all the best, saying, “The programme is in the best of hands.”