Match of the Day's Gary Lineker to 'quit' BBC show after 25 years as host

Gary Lineker is all set to 'quit' Match of the Day at the end of this season, after 25 years as the show's main host. However, it is thought that rather than walk away from the BBC entirely, he will stay with the broadcaster to anchor the 2026 World Cup.

The main anchor of the Saturday night Premier League highlights programme since the late 90s, Gary saw himself at the centre of speculation he was either going to walk away from the job or be ditched by his BBC bosses, during the Euros earlier this year, as several high profile stars, including Jermaine Jenas, before his One Show controversy and Gabby Logan were touted as his successors.

A 'leaked' email said to be from the BBC claimed that the former England and Spurs striker would be going at the end of the current Premier League campaign and, even though a spokesperson for the channel shut down the claims by saying they 'had nothing to announce' it did little to quash talk of the 63-year-old going, as BBC colleagues like Alex Scott and Mark Chapman were also put in the frame to take over.

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And on Monday night, insiders claimed that Gary's Match of the Day departure had been confirmed, with a source telling The Sun: "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."

The plan is that, while Gary will step down as Match of the Day presenter, he will stay on at the BBNC for another year, in order to lead coverage of the 2026 World Cup from America.