Tearful Gary Lineker signs off from ‘utterly joyous’ Match of the Day

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Gary Lineker wiped away tears after internet hosting Match of the Day for the ultimate time and bringing his BBC profession to an finish on Sunday night.

The previous England striker stepped down from presenting duties on the company after the airing of the highlights programme on the ultimate day of the Premier League season.

The 64-year-old had lengthy meant Sunday’s present to be his final Match of the Day however he was planning to remain on to entrance the BBC’s stay protection of the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/23/17d8adf415c12c9ba32ee882c8e594a7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4Mjk3NTU2-2.80208720.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/23/17d8adf415c12c9ba32ee882c8e594a7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4Mjk3NTU2-2.80208720.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/23/17d8adf415c12c9ba32ee882c8e594a7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4Mjk3NTU2-2.80208720.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Gary Lineker referenced his social media controversy in light-hearted fashion (Ben Whitley/PA)" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 QHifS inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Gary Lineker referenced his social media controversy in light-hearted trend (Ben Whitley/PA) He introduced final Monday he was bringing ahead his departure following a social media row through which he shared a submit about Zionism that includes an outline of a rat, traditionally used as an antisemitic trope.

Lineker, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter and host of Match of the Day since 1999, apologised unreservedly for the submit however stated it was “greatest for all involved” if he left fully.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/26/01/60c55aae6988bb3f77ff657ba89ab1c7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4MzAzNTA1-2.80176564.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/26/01/60c55aae6988bb3f77ff657ba89ab1c7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4MzAzNTA1-2.80176564.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/26/01/60c55aae6988bb3f77ff657ba89ab1c7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4MzAzNTA1-2.80176564.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Gary Lineker has presented Match of the Day for the final time (Nick Potts/PA)" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 QHifS inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Gary Lineker has offered Match of the Day for the ultimate time (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire) He appeared to allude to this as he opened Sunday’s programme, which featured the ultimate video games within the race for top-five locations within the Premier League, with a joke at his personal expense.

Lineker stated: “It wasn’t meant to finish this fashion… however with the title race over and the relegation locations confirmed, the Champions League was all we had left to speak about about.”

The programme was preceded with a montage of Lineker’s on-field footballing highlights, and an archive clip of him as a presenter saying “the tip of an period”, earlier than the common opening credit.

The present concluded with a prolonged tribute to Lineker’s profitable careers in each soccer and broadcasting, that includes punditry colleagues previous and current together with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Alan Hansen and Ian Wright.

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There have been additionally feedback from Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Claudio Ranieri, who guided Lineker’s hometown Leicester to Premier League glory in 2016 – prompting Lineker to ship on a promise to current the present in his underpants.

Paul Gascoigne, Alan Smith and Peter Shilton had been among the many former team-mates to function, in addition to members of his household.

Lineker was teary after the tribute, however composed himself to wrap up the programme by thanking workforce members concerned within the “iconic present”, describing them as “the easiest”.

He stated: “Slightly like my soccer profession, everybody else did all of the onerous work and I acquired the plaudits.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for 1 / 4 of a century. It’s been completely joyous.”

He went on to say his Match of the Day replacements Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, who will share presenting duties from subsequent season, will guarantee “the programme is in the very best of fingers”.

There was additionally a congratulatory message through the programme from Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot, whom Lineker interviewed about his facet’s title success.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/23/66b1c565c4145897a10ab4b52be17876Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4Mjk4MjI4-2.80208450.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/23/66b1c565c4145897a10ab4b52be17876Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4Mjk4MjI4-2.80208450.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/23/66b1c565c4145897a10ab4b52be17876Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4Mjk4MjI4-2.80208450.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Lineker will no longer present net season’s FA Cup for the BBC (Bradley Collyer/PA)" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 QHifS inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Lineker will now not current web season’s FA Cup for the BBC (Bradley Collyer/PA) Lineker moved into the media after a taking part in profession that included stints at Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham. He additionally scored 48 targets in 80 appearances for England.

In addition to soccer, he additionally hosted protection of different main sporting occasions together with the 2012 London Olympics.

In March 2023 he was quickly suspended from BBC duties amid an impartiality row over feedback he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum coverage.