Gary Lineker Quits the BBC After 26 Years

Gary Lineker Quits The Bbc After 26 Years

Gary Lineker — football legend, crisp connoisseur, and the face of Match of the Day — is officially calling it quits at the BBC after more than two decades. Yep, you read that right. The man who’s been in our living rooms every Saturday night since the 90s is bowing out, and it’s happening this week.

Lineker, 63, will make his final appearance this Sunday, May 25. That’s it. No more “Over to you, Alan” moments.

This surprise exit comes hot on the heels of a social media storm that left the BBC in a bit of a tangle. According to The Guardian, Lineker recently posted an image widely associated with antisemitic propaganda. He deleted it pretty quickly and issued what he called an “unreserved apology”, adding that he would never knowingly share anything antisemitic.

But the damage was done. More than 10,000 people signed a petition calling for his removal. The BBC had a chat with him, and what was supposed to be a quiet wind-down from Match of the Day at the end of the season turned into a full-blown goodbye.

The Times reports that the BBC and Lineker “mutually agreed” he’d walk away completely — no FA Cup, no 2026 World Cup, nada.

That’s a big blow. This is the same guy who’s hosted every major football moment for the Beeb since the Spice Girls were topping charts and Tony Blair was in No.10.

Taking over the Match of the Day hot seat? A power trio of Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan. Not a bad lineup, but let’s be real — Saturday nights won’t be the same.

Still, Lineker leaves behind a hefty legacy, one full of classic moments, cheeky banter, and perfectly timed eye-rolls.