The 63-year-old former England striker later added: "I bowed out in my football career when I felt it was the right time. Lineker refused to speculate who would be taking his place, as rumours grew around Mark Chapman, the regular Match Of The Day 2 presenter, Football Focus host Alex Scott, and BBC sports coverage presenter Gabby Logan. Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and will have presented the show for more than a quarter of a century when he leaves in May 2025. Richards described it as a "sad day" to learn of Lineker leaving Match Of The Day. The BBC said future plans for Match Of The Day would be "announced in due course".

Source: BBC November 15, 2024 23:03 UTC