As Gary Lineker prepares to step down from his iconic role on Match of the Day, he’s reflecting on his time with the BBC and the colleagues who made it all memorable.
After 26 years of hosting the show, Lineker is ready to pass the baton at the end of this season.
It’s a bittersweet moment for the 64-year-old, who took over from Des Lynam back in 1999.
Despite saying goodbye to his chair on Match of the Day, Lineker isn’t disappearing from the BBC entirely.
He’ll continue to host FA Cup matches next season and will be a key part of their 2026 World Cup coverage.
But as his long tenure at the helm of the show winds down, he’s already thinking about the colleagues he’ll miss the most.
The Pundit He’ll Miss the Most
Though Lineker has worked with many pundits over the years, he’s been quick to highlight one individual he’ll particularly miss once he steps away from Match of the Day.
While fans of Alan Shearer and Micah Richards need not worry—both will continue to feature on The Rest Is Football podcast—Lineker shared that he’ll especially miss Danny Murphy, a pundit he considers highly underrated.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, Lineker joked, “There’s no point saying Alan or Micah, as I’ll still be working with them. I don’t like any of the others!”
He followed up with, “That’s a joke… I’ll miss Danny Murphy, a really underrated pundit, analytically good, and always fun to be around.”
Murphy, who played for Liverpool and earned nine senior England caps, has been a familiar face on Match of the Day since 2013.
With over 170 guest appearances to his name, Murphy is a regular studio presence and a trusted voice in football commentary.
In addition to his work on the BBC, Murphy writes for Mail Sport and contributes to radio programs like BBC 5Live and talkSPORT.
The Future of Match of the Day Hosts
As for the show’s future, Lineker’s departure will see a rotation of new hosts filling the prestigious seat.
In January, it was confirmed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan would all take on the hosting role, rotating in and out each week.
Lineker, always the professional, took the news in stride.
He noted that the decision likely stemmed from the heavy commitment required for the role, particularly for hosts with families.
“If you’re saying someone is going to do it for the next ten or 20 years, then your weekends are gone,” he explained.
While he wasn’t involved in the decision-making process, Lineker expressed confidence in his successors: “They’ll be fine and they’ll do a great job. I’ve known them all for years, they’re top presenters.”
Looking ahead, Match of the Day will undoubtedly continue to evolve, but Lineker’s presence on the show will always be a significant part of its history.