- Gary Lineker has named his favorite 11 Premier League gamers he has watched
- He’ll host Match of the Day one final time on Sunday after 26 years with the BBC
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Ought to Oliver Glasner go away Palace for Spurs?
After 26 years of rounding up weekend upon weekend of Premier League soccer, Gary Lineker has named his favorite 11 gamers he has seen within the division.
Lineker will host his final Match of the Day present after the ultimate day of the 2024-25 season on Sunday, and can depart the BBC after he triggered an antisemitism row earlier this month.
The previous England striker is not going to entrance the general public broadcaster’s protection of the 2026 World Cup or the FA Cup subsequent season.
With the tip in sight, Lineker couldn’t assist however reminisce on which gamers have introduced him probably the most pleasure whereas internet hosting Match of the Day for over two-and-a-half a long time.
He named 11 of the Premier League’s most iconic gamers, in addition to an extra 10 included as honourable mentions.
Having been born within the East Midlands metropolis, Lineker, 64, is a large Leicester fan, that means it was solely becoming that Jamie Vardy was named first on his record of favorite gamers.
Gary Lineker named his 11 favorite Premier League gamers forward of his closing Match of the Day
The 64-year-old will go away the BBC after Sunday’s present, ending a 26-year keep on the firm
Lineker’s exit was introduced this month after an antisemitism controversy, that means he is not going to cowl the 2026 World Cup and subsequent season’s FA Cup, as he beforehand deliberate to do
One other beloved Foxes icon that made the lower was Riyad Mahrez, who performed an important position in serving to Leicester to their sensational Premier League success in 2016, and was additionally a key piece in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester Metropolis facet both facet of 2020.
One other Metropolis participant talked about was departing midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who’s probably the most prolific assister in Premier League historical past.
On the alternative facet of Manchester, Wayne Rooney was the one Crimson Devils participant to be included in Lineker’s record. Astonishingly, there was no room for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs or Eric Cantona.
Alan Shearer – a fellow pundit and shut buddy of Lineker – was a shoo-in. The previous Newcastle striker is the Premier League’s all-time high goalscorer.
Lineker may additionally have sentimental ties to the following two gamers he included – Harry Kane and Gareth Bale – each former Tottenham gamers. Lineker scored 80 targets for Spurs between 1989 and 1992.
Capping off the record of 11 is Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and the 2024-25 Premier League Participant of the Season, Mohamed Salah.
Mail On-line reported this week that, regardless of the controversial nature of Lineker’s exit, the BBC nonetheless plan to present the veteran presenter a fulsome send-off on Sunday.
An emotional montage will reportedly be performed on the present, which can embrace messages from well-known gamers, managers and colleagues, who will all come collectively to pay tribute to Lineker’s profession.
And in true sporting vogue, he may additionally be given a Match of the Day cap – just like the one which was offered to pundit Ian Wright final 12 months – to mark his time on the soccer evaluation programme.
