Gary Linekar
Gary Lineker, the iconic host of Match of the Day, faced an unexpected challenge during his final appearance on the program. His departure from the BBC, accelerated by a social media incident, was marked by a broadcast error that nearly overshadowed his farewell. Lineker, who has been a fixture on the show since 1999, found himself without his script, leading to an emotional moment as the episode concluded. The 64-year-old reflected on this experience during an episode of The Rest is Football, alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, who joined him as guest pundits for his last show.
Gary Lineker said: “I was a bit emotional last night, but I’m fine, I’m good and thank you both for your very kind words. Thankfully that wasn’t the last clip because I had gone at that point and I needed time to get myself together and try to get through the end of the show.”
Lineker continued: “It’s weird isn’t it? I’ve presented it for 25, 26 years and I always finish with the Premier League table and a closing line, which again I did last night. That is written by the subs, it needs to be accurate obviously for all the things, you can’t make any mistakes and for the first time in 26 years I couldn’t find it. And it wasn’t there, so I just busk. There were a couple of tears, I was fighting it back a bit with my closing lines, but yeah, and big thank you actually to Richard Hughes, he is the [Match of the Day] editor. Rich is brilliant, he’s the best in the business and getting that montage together was a brilliant thing.”
Lineker’s departure from the BBC came a year earlier than planned following a controversial tweet that led to a social media dispute. Despite offering a full apology and removing the tweet, it was decided in May that he would leave his role ahead of schedule. Lineker had originally intended to continue presenting live FA Cup matches and the 2026 World Cup. However, he agreed that an early departure was in the best interest of all involved.
The Leicester City legend, who scored 61 goals in 114 appearances for the club, will now embark on a new chapter in his career. His exit from the BBC marks the end of an era for many fans who have grown accustomed to his presence on Match of the Day. As Lineker moves forward, his contributions to football broadcasting will be fondly remembered by viewers and colleagues alike.
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