Renowned footballer and TV host Gary Lineker is set to bid farewell to ‘Match of the Day’, BBC’s most popular football highlights show, which he has been hosting for the past 25 years. He is quite pleased with this decision and mentioned that he will now be able to enjoy his weekends freely for the first time.
In an interview with The Times of London, Gary Lineker said, “Now I will have my own time. I have never had a free Saturday or Sunday in my adult life. Now I can go out, enjoy good food, and have fun. Maybe I’ll even sit down to watch ‘Match of the Day’ myself!”
Lineker previously played football for England and has been hosting this BBC show since 1999. However, he now wants to relax and enjoy life.
That said, he is not leaving the BBC entirely. In the future, he will be seen hosting several major sports events.
Additionally, Lineker owns a podcast production company called ‘Goalhanger Podcasts‘, which is one of the most popular podcast companies in the UK. His football podcast, ‘The Rest Is Football’, has been listened to 19.6 million (1.96 crore) times and was viewed 66 million (6.6 crore) times on social media during Euro 2024.
After Gary Lineker’s departure, the BBC has handed over the responsibility of the show to Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates. The trio will now collectively take this popular football show forward.
Gary Lineker has had an illustrious career in both football and television. Now, he is excited to spend time with his family and friends. Although he is not stepping away from football entirely, for the first time, he will be able to **keep Saturdays and Sundays entirely for himself**.
