Culture | Lineker bids tearful goodbye to Match of the Day

Gary Lineker has presented Match of the Day for the last time.

It's the end of an era as well as the end of the footballer-turned-TV-presenter's BBC career. 

Lineker, 64, signed off with a tearful farewell on Sunday night's programme to mark the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season after presenting the show for 26 years. The former England international was joined by regular pundits Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, and the show began with a montage of the former Spurs, Everton, Leicester City, Barcelona and Nagoya Grampus striker's best goals.

There was another montage of Lineker's best moments as presenter of the show, as well as well wishes from the likes of Arne Slot, Pep Guardiola, Virgil van Dijk, as well as ex-players and pundits including Alan Hansen, Ian Wright, and Paul Gascgoine.

Lineker has been at the centre of a social media storm after he reshared a video which depicted Zionists as rats. Lineker has been outspoken in his support of Palestine, and his voicing of his political beliefs has hastened his departure from the national broadcaster. He was temporarily suspended in May 2023 for his comments on the UK government's asylum policies.

Lineker had announced late last year that he would step down from presenting Match of the Day at the end of the season, but won't present the FA Cup and World Cup as previously planned given recent events. 

His opening words of the programme alluded to the controversy.

"It wasn’t meant to end this way,” he began. “With the title race over, the Champions League was all we had left to talk about!"

After showing highlights from the final day of the league season, in which all 20 teams were competing, and providing analysis alongside Richards and Shearer, Lineker signed off by thanking the extended staff of the show in typically humble fashion.

"Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits," he joked. "It’s been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It’s been utterly joyous."

The 64-year-old also wished his successors well. Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will take over presenting duties for the long-running football show next season.

"I'd like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly all the very best when they sit in this chair. The programme is in the best of hands."

Lineker, who began his punditry career way back in 1999, reserved his final thank you for the viewers at home.

"And my final thank you goes to all of you," 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."