BBC could go down unlikely route in search for Gary Lineker replacement

The BBC might use a rotating group of Match of the Day presenters after Gary Lineker leaves his post, it has been claimed.

Lineker is set to leave the flagship football highlights show when his contract expires at the end of the current season. However, he is understood to have agreed fresh terms with the BBC which will see him involved in other football coverage including the 2026 World Cup.

The former England striker, 63, has been involved with Match of the Day since back in 1999. However, there have been occasions where he hasn't been on hosting duties.

He was taken out of the spotlight in March 2023 after social media comments about the UK government's immigration policy, but swiftly returned to screens after colleagues showed solidarity with the ex-footballer. There have been other instances where different anchors have presented the show on a one-off basis, but fresh reports indicate there might not be just one like-for-like replacement.

According to The Sun, one of the BBC's options is a group of multiple hosts on rotation. The same publication names Mark Chapman as one of those hosts, but has not shared any other names.

Mirror Football has looked at some of the other individuals who might find themselves in the mix. They include Gabby Logan and Jason Mohammad, who have shared presenting duties with Chapman on the BBC's Champions League highlights show, and another Beeb regular in Alex Scott.

At the time of writing, the BBC has yet to provide a statement on Lineker's exit or on any successor. However, the host has recently dropped hints that his time with the broadcaster might not last too much longer.

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Image: Jess Hornby/Getty Images) Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

"As you know, like [ Liverpool players] Trent [Alexander-Arnold], like Virgil [van Dijk], like Mo [Salah], I am coming to the end of my contract in the summer," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast in October. At the time, leaked communications suggested the BBC was about to announce his exit, but no such statement materialised.

"It's natural at some point that you have to have conversations and they've just started," he added. "I don't know why it all spiralled out of control, but all is okay."

Back in August, Lineker discussed his future on BBC Breakfast as he marked Match of the Day's 60th anniversary. "It depends how long they want me, I suppose," he said at the time.

“I love doing it at the moment; I've still got another year left, at least. So we'll have to wait and see what happens. Obviously it's another change in football and television and the rights of the Premier League and stuff like that. All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it's been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!"

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