Gary Lineker has called on the BBC to not bring in radical new changes when he leaves Match of the Day at the end of the season in a new interview – which also saw the former England international aim a sharp dig at the broadcaster’s director of sport.
The long-time presenter of the iconic highlights show is set to depart after 26 years in the role, but will remain part of the broadcaster’s stables, fronting their coverage of the 2026 World Cup before retirement.
In his stead, the BBC has opted not to replace him with a single figure, as he replaced former host Des Lynam, but – as exclusively revealed by Mail Sport – with a trio of co-hosts.
Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman, and Kelly Cates will make up the team leading Match of the Day coverage in a break from tradition.
But ahead of the changing of the guard, Lineker has aimed a jab at the ‘new regime’ at the broadcaster, and warned the BBC hierarchy of the danger of making too many changes.
The 64-year-old offered his thoughts on BBC’s director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who took up the helm just last year, arguing that since his appointment, there has been a dramatic change at the top.
Gary Lineker has offered a warning to his BBC bosses over the new format of Match of the Day
Lineker singled out new BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski for having ‘no TV experience’
Lineker will be replaced by a presenting team in Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan
‘I think (a regime change) has (happened), and that’s what I was alluding to (in an earlier interview),’ Lineker told Telegraph Sport.
‘He has his reasons, he wants to change Match of the Day a bit. Ultimately, I don’t think they will, because I don’t see how you move a highlights show away from being about highlights.
‘I think he wants more journalists – he has come from that background. He has got no television experience.’
When queried on whether he would like to see the programme keep the same easy rapport he has with his long-term co-pundits such as Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker added that the channel would be ‘mad’ to mess with a winning formula.
‘I suspect, for all the thoughts of change, that the show will pretty much stay as it is. That’s my gut feeling,’ Lineker continued.
‘I think they’d be mad, absolutely mad, to mess around with Match of the Day. It has taken years and years to get the right balance.
‘I would be nervous if they fiddled with it too much. It’s that old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.’
Lineker has previously been supportive of the BBC’s decision to replace him with the team of Cates, Logan, and Chapman, but stressed that the job is a ‘massive commitment’.
‘Those three have all got families, and if you’re saying someone is going to do it for the next ten or 20 years, then your weekends are gone,’ Lineker said last month.
Lineker has maintained a particular style in the iconic role he has held for the last 26 years
‘That might be it, I don’t know. I didn’t get involved in any of that.
‘I take it as a compliment that they’ve named three, but I suspect it’s not due to that.
‘I haven’t seen them yet to speak to them, but I will do. They’ll be fine and they’ll do a great job. I’ve known them all for years, they’re top presenters.’
As he counts down to the end of the season and his final episode for Match of the Day, Lineker last weekend found himself in hot water for sharing a pro-Palestine clip featuring an emoji of a rat – an anti-Jewish slur.
This prompted condemnation from Jewish groups and calls for him to be axed by the broadcaster.
Lineker, 64, later deleted the footage from his ‘Stories’ reel on the social media site and apologised, insisting that he would ‘never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic.
