Gary Lineker has revealed his favourite Match of the Day moment as he prepares to call time on almost 26 years at the helm of BBC’s flagship football show.
Branded as a contract extension, the Beeb announced earlier this month that Lineker, 63, will continue to host the broadcaster’s coverage of the FA Cup and World Cup until 2026, while stepping down as Match of the Day’s presenter at the end of the season.
BBC are now in the process of hunting for a host to succeed Lineker, who first replaced Des Lynam on the iconic programme back in 1999.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC’s director of sport, is said to believe a new presenter could help win over younger viewers, with Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Kelly Cates among those in the frame.
Speaking to pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on their podcast The Rest is Football, Lineker reflected on his time in the Match of the Day hot seat, opening up on his favourite moment in the chair.
Responding to fan who asked all three to pick out their favourite memories from the show, the former Leicester, Tottenham and Barcelona star said: ‘My favourite one was when Leicester received the Premier League trophy on the final day of the season.
Gary Lineker has revealed his favourite Match of the Day moment after stepping down as host
He begins his long farewell on Match of the Day, with a new host to come in from next season
The Leicester fan admits he was in tears when the Foxes won the Premier League back in 2016
‘Claudio Ranieri came out with (Andrea) Bocelli, I got so emotional. I just sat in the office, it was a bit embarrassing, just tears down my cheeks. That was definitely my favourite moment.’
Shearer quizzed Lineker over whether the Foxes winning the FA Cup in 2021 surpassed it, but the Match of the Day host admitted that nothing beats Leicester’s Premier League title triumph in 2016.
‘Yes, that was special too,’ the avid Foxes fan added. ‘They were two things I never thought I’d witness in my lifetime.’
Lineker also joked that hosting Match of the Day in his underwear, which happened at the start of the 2016-17 campaign after he wagered that Leicester would be caught in the Premier League title race the season before, was his worst moment.
Shearer picked out an international match as his favourite Match of the Day moment — and was not a game England were involved in.
The Newcastle and Blackburn legend chose Argentina’s penalty shootout win over France in the 2022 World Cup final, which saw Lionel Messi finally lift the elusive trophy and Kylian Mbappe score a hat-trick during the enthralling 3-3 draw.
‘I think the World Cup one in Qatar with Messi,’ Shearer said. ‘That was an unbelievable final and it was obviously made for him, that night. It was one of the greatest games I’ve seen. The occasion was incredible.’
Richards, opting for a different path, admitted no Match of the Day has been quite as special as the very first time he sat down in the punditry chair on the show.
Alan Shearer (left) and Micah Richards (right) also shared their best Match of the Day moments
Shearer picked Lionel Messi’s World Cup win with Argentina in 2022 as his favourite memory
Lineker presented Match of the Day in his underwear at the start of the 2016-17 campaign, having vowed to do so if Leicester held on to win the Premier League title the season before
‘I always think your first Match of the Day,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to say “easier” shows because broadcasting is never easy but you start on shows that maybe don’t have the audience of Match of the Day… Football Focus, 5Live, Match of the Day 2, Final Score. Then, you go to Match of the Day and it’s almost like you’ve got to prove to yourself that you should be there.’
Jokingly, Lineker interrupted: ‘You will do one day, Micah…’
After erupting into laughter, Richards continued: ‘Just that first Match of the Day, the music — your heart starts beating.
‘I do a little of bit of training with a couple of guys, Matt Curtis and Rob Nothman, and all the things like sitting up straight, where to put your hands, which camera to look at… I watched it back and I looked so stiff and nervous! It’s ridiculous!
‘Doing Match of the Day, such an iconic show, and live Super Sunday (on Sky Sports) has just been amazing.’
