The favourites to exchange Gary Lineker as Match of the Day presenter have been revealed – together with a shock candidate from an unrelated subject of experience.
Lineker is ready to depart the give up the enduring BBC present on the finish of the season after 26 years within the driving seat.
The Sun initially reported that he’ll step down however proceed presenting FA Cup protection and on the 2026 World Cup, with the BBC later showing to verify the information.
Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter with a wage of round £1.35million however executives wish to transfer the present in a recent path.
And Mark Chapman, host of Match of the Day 2, is the frontrunner at 6/4 with Ladbrokes to steer that courageous new period, forward of Gabby Logan on 4/1.
The favourites to exchange Gary Lineker – who’s leaving Match of the Day on the finish of the season – have been revealed
Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman is the favorite at 6/4 with Ladbrokes to succeed him
Gabby Logan is 5/1 to step into the place and would convey a wealth of expertise
Kelly Cates, who largely presents with Sky Sports activities, has rocketed as much as third-favourite at 5/1 forward of Soccer Focus anchor Alex Scott and Eilidh Barbour on 6/1.
Kelly Somers (8/1), Laura Woods (10/1), Dan Walker (12/1), Micah Richards (12/1), and Manish Bhasin (12/1) all have intensive expertise and observe up behind them.
Whereas Somers, Woods, Walker, and Bhasin come from presenting backgrounds, Richards has taken the punditry route after his profession in soccer whihch noticed him play for Manchester Metropolis and England.
He’s on a daily pundit on Match of the Day and Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection, and is a part of the trio on Lineker’s The Relaxation is Soccer podcast alongside Alan Shearer.
Nevertheless, Shearer is compelled to accept odds of 25/1 to take over the new seat.
A reputation jumps out, stage with Richards and others on 12/1, that few would have ever seen coming: historical past boffin Dan Jones.
Cambridge graduate Jones, recognized for his books and TV collection totally on English historical past resembling ‘Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty’, used to jot down columns about sport for the London Night Commonplace.
Nevertheless, that gig resulted in 2019 and it’s protected to say that he appears to be a far-fetched candidate contemplating his deal with different areas.
Kelly Cates, who fronts Premier League protection for Sky Sports activities, is that this third favorite
Historian Dan Jones has unexpectedly been named as one of many contenders to exchange Lineker
He’s stage with the likes of ex-Man Metropolis star Micah Richards, who’s a pundit on MOTD, at 12/1
TNT Sports activities star Laura Woods, widespread for her Champions League protection, can also be on 12/1
Jermaine Jenas would have seemingly been among the many favourites however he was sacked by the BBC in August for inappropriate behaviour, as MailOnline revealed.
The previous Tottenham star admitted to sending ‘inappropriate messages’ to feminine colleagues, insisting in an interview with The Solar that ‘nothing bodily’ occurred however that he had ‘cheated’ on his spouse Ellie, with whom he has three youngsters.
Lineker’s exit will shut a protracted – and controversial – chapter for one of many nation’s most iconic reveals. The BBC’s director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, is ‘not precisely shut’ with Lineker and is eager to slash spending and provides the present a facelift, a supply advised The Solar. The choice to half methods with him comes after six weeks of talks.
Lineker’s time because the face of Match of the Day has been divisive at instances, with the presenter quickly suspended final yr for criticising the federal government’s asylum coverage in a controversially worded tweet.
‘Broadcaster Gary Lineker is to step down as host of flagship soccer programme Match of the Day on the finish of this season, BBC Information understands,’ the BBC wrote on Monday night.
He returned quickly after following a walk-out by his MOTD colleagues who confirmed solidarity with the previous England striker, and the row even prompted the Beeb to overtake and draw up a brand new set of pointers for its presenters and their social media use. It has been arduous for the BBC to maintain a deal with on him when he presents his widespread podcast, The Relaxation Is Soccer, alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
Former England star Lineker first began presenting the enduring highlights present again in 1999
Arguably his most iconic second on the present got here when he introduced it in his underpants in August 2016 after Leicester Metropolis received the Premier League title
Lineker’s future has been the topic of hypothesis for a while, particularly after Mail Sport reevaled an e-mail in October which presupposed to announce his impending departure
Throughout Euro 2024 he branded England’s efficiency in opposition to Denmark as ‘s***’, which prompted a retaliation from Harry Kane, who hit out at assaults from pundits who knew what it’s prefer to ‘put on the shirt’.
That shock jock tone landed him in scorching water and stands in stark distinction to the extra composed, cerebral type that Match of the Day upholds.
His contract with the BBC finishes on the finish of this season however he has been given an 18-month extension. Nevertheless, that won’t embody Match of the Day anchoring duties.
In October, Mail Sport revealed an e-mail purportedly from the BBC’s director of sport, Kay-Jelski, which featured an announcement asserting his imminent departure from the present.
That e-mail, which prompt a present earlier this season can be his final – which has not been the case – additionally included feedback from director normal Tim Davie, who hailed an ‘unbelievable’ stint and described Lineker as a ‘world class presenter’.
A supply advised The Solar: ‘Gary completely adores Match of the Day, and has been extremely joyful on the BBC. However he has been on the helm since 1999, and by the point he leaves, he could have been on the Beeb for 30 years.
‘It’s one of many trade’s worst saved secrets and techniques that the brand new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t precisely shut. The previous may be very eager to make his mark by bringing in new faces, and slashing wage payments.
‘Negotiations have been ongoing for the previous six weeks and at last a deal has been struck that everybody is happy with.
‘Gary might be 65 when he leaves; frankly, he isn’t getting youthful. and simply feels the time is correct to focus solely on his mogul pursuits exterior the BBC – particularly his Goalhanger podcasting enterprise, which is turning into enormous Stateside. BBC execs, in the meantime, might be giving Match of the Day a reboot to maintain it recent within the wake of such an enormous departure.’
