Gary Lineker indicators off from remaining Match of the Day as he leaves BBC after 26 years

Gary Lineker held again tears as he signed off from his remaining version of Match of the Day after 26 years within the sizzling seat and formally left the BBC.

The host introduced in November that he would go away the soccer present on the finish of the Premier League season, which concluded on Sunday.

He had been because of stay with the BBC to entrance protection of the lads’s FA Cup and the World Cup, however has now left the company fully after apologising for sharing an antisemitic social media submit.

On his swansong on Sunday, Lineker apparently made a nod to the controversy, opening the present by telling viewers “it wasn’t meant to finish this manner” – earlier than happening to show the road right into a reference to the ultimate day of the season.

On the finish of the programme, Lineker was offered with a commemorative cap and golden boot by pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, who had been alongside him.

“It has been an absolute privilege to have hosted Match of the Day for 1 / 4 of a century. It has been completely joyous,” he mentioned.

Talking straight into the digital camera to viewers at house, he added: “And my remaining thanks goes to all of you.

“Thanks for watching, thanks for all of your love and assist over time.

“It has been so particular, and I am sorry that your workforce was at all times on final. Time to say goodbye.”

The previous England ahead changed Des Lynam as the principle presenter of the BBC’s flagship soccer programme in 1999, and went on to turn into its highest-paid presenter.

He hit the headlines for airing his opinions past soccer on social media, nevertheless.

He was suspended in 2023 for a submit concerning the then-government’s asylum coverage, with quite a few fellow BBC Sport presenters and pundits strolling out in assist.

After Lineker was reinstated, the BBC issued new guidelines for presenters posting on social media.

Earlier this month, Lineker was criticised for sharing a social media submit about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, traditionally used as an antisemitic insult.

Lineker apologised, saying he had not seen the picture and “would by no means consciously repost something antisemitic”.

Nonetheless, it was then introduced he would go away the BBC sooner than anticipated, and that Sunday’s present could be his final.

In an announcement on the time, Lineker mentioned soccer had been “on the coronary heart of my life” and that he cared deeply concerning the sport and his BBC work, however he recognised “the error and upset that I prompted”.

“Stepping again now feels just like the accountable plan of action,” he mentioned.

BBC director normal Tim Davie thanked Lineker for being “a defining voice in soccer protection for the BBC for over twenty years”, and mentioned that they had “agreed he’ll step again from additional presenting after this season”.

Lineker’s remaining episode within the presenter’s chair on Sunday noticed him interview Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot as they collected the Premier League trophy.

Slot paid tribute, saying: “Thanks for being such an excellent presenter of a BBC present that I watched many occasions after I lived in Holland, and now nonetheless.”

The present started with a montage of former Everton and Spurs striker Lineker’s targets and later appeared again on highlights of his time on the helm of Match of the Day.

This included him famously presenting a phase whereas sporting solely his Leicester Metropolis boxer shorts, as he had promised, after his boyhood workforce gained the Premier League in 2016.

His longstanding sidekicks Shearer and Richards additionally paid tribute, introducing a montage that included testimonies from the likes of Alan Hansen, Ian Wright and Paul Gascgoine in addition to the late Johan Cruyff, singer Andrea Bocelli and Lineker’s sons.

“You will not imagine it however you may be missed,” provided Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola.

“You’ve got been nice to me and you’ve got been unbelievable to Match of the Day,” added Shearer.

In January, it was revealed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan would collectively take over Match of the Day presenting duties from the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

“I would prefer to want Gabby, Mark and Kelly all the perfect once they sit on this chair,” Lineker mentioned.

“The programme is in the most effective of palms.”