- The skilled presenter will step away from the company in 2026
- In an interview, he revealed whether or not he plans to affix one other TV firm
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Gary Lineker has revealed he has no plans to leap ship to a rival broadcaster when his profitable contract with the BBC runs down subsequent yr.
The skilled anchor will step down as host of Match of the Day in Could, bringing an finish to his 26-year spell within the present’s sizzling seat, however will proceed to entrance protection of subsequent season’s FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup.
He’s then anticipated to stroll away completely from the company, elevating questions over whether or not he could possibly be tempted to place pen to paper with one other firm.
However Lineker has quashed the hypothesis in an interview with FourFourTwo, saying he’ll as an alternative give attention to his burgeoning, money-spinning podcast empire.
The 64-year-old additionally hinted he might step away from sports activities presenting completely, saying: ‘I do not suppose you may see me doing a lot soccer, other than the podcast.’
Lineker then added: ‘I am going to do the odd factor, however I do not suppose you may see me showing usually on one other channel.’
Gary Lineker revealed he has no plans to affix one other TV firm when he leaves the BBC
Lineker will step away from the company after fronting their 2026 World Cup protection
He’ll as an alternative give attention to his rising podcast empire and internet hosting The Relaxation Is Soccer
Sky Sports activities are believed to have approached Lineker, who earned over £1.35m from the BBC final yr and is their highest-paid worker, on a number of events.
‘We have had talks with Sky at varied factors, however I all the time needed to stay with the BBC,’ Lineker added, earlier than detailing his causes for staying put.
‘I might have earned much more, although I do know I have been effectively paid anyway, clearly.
‘I’ve had gives to go elsewhere however I simply beloved being with the BBC, and likewise the way it helps every little thing else you do.
‘It is not solely the kudos, the viewers is far larger. Extra individuals nonetheless watch Match of the Day than most likely the most important dwell recreation on Sundays.
‘Additionally, I am fairly loyal. I’ve had the identical man reduce my hair for 40 years, the identical man coaching me within the health club for 30 years, the identical agent since I used to be 18…’
Lineker’s podcast firm recorded a staggering £1.4million revenue final yr.
He based Goalhanger Podcasts in 2019 and its sequence of reveals, together with The Relaxation Is Soccer, The Relaxation Is Politics and The Relaxation Is Historical past, have usually topped the charts, raking in hundreds of thousands of listeners and boasting rising audiences.
Lineker turned down Sky on quite a few events regardless of being supplied more cash
He anchors The Relaxation Is Soccer alongside BBC colleagues Micah Richards and Alan Shearer
Its property jumped over the past 12 months with accounts filed at Corporations Home exhibiting its retained earnings rose from £590,000 in 2023 to £2.03m final yr, a £1.4m rise.
Money within the financial institution additionally elevated from £560,000 to £2.7m.
Lineker himself presents The Relaxation Is Soccer, a preferred present masking the game’s greatest speaking factors, alongside BBC colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
In accordance with the enterprise, its 13 key reveals amassed greater than 400m audio downloads and over 85m views on YouTube throughout 2024.
Throughout Euro 2024, Lineker’s podcast was downloaded 19.6m instances.
