GARY Lineker is set to leave Match of the Day at the end of the 2024/25 season, according to reports.
The 63-year-old took over from Des Lynam on the Premier League highlights show back in 1999 so would have covered 25 seasons by the end of his tenure.
A spokesperson for the BBC declined to comment on the reports.
It is understood he will stay at the BBC until the end of the next World Cup being held in the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026, Sky News reports.
The presenter was briefly removed from the programme in March 2023 following controversy over comments he made on social media criticising the then-Conservative government's asylum policies.
The row prompted the BBC to launch an independent review of its social media guidelines and Lineker returned to screens soon after.
The 63-year-old has been the broadcaster's highest-paid star in recent years for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year.
He received around £1.35m during the 2023-24 financial year, according to the BBC's most recent figures.
Gary Lineker's career at Match of the Day
Once Lineker retired from playing football in 1994 he started a career in the media, initially on the BBC for Radio 5 Live and as a football pundit.
Additionally, he appeared as a team captain on the sports game show They Think It's All Over from 1995 to 2003.
A few years later Lineker replaced Des Lynam on Match of the Day and eventually became the BBC's highest-paid sports presenter.
Following the departure of Steve Rider from the BBC in 2005 Lineker also became the new presenter for the corporation's golf coverage.
Despite receiving some criticism from his peers, he continued to front the BBC's coverage of the Masters and The Open.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel