Gary Lineker’s departure from Match of the Day marks the end of an era in football broadcasting. When he took over from Des Lynam in 1999, few believed he would outlast his suave, silver-haired predecessor. Yet 26 years later, Lineker bows out as the longest-serving presenter in the show’s history, having surpassed even Jimmy Hill’s record. His time on the show has been packed with moments that were, for Match of the Day’s traditionally staid standards, unexpectedly colourful.
It all began in 1999 with a nervy debut. Determined to prove himself, Lineker even hired a vocal coach to prepare for the role. His early appearances were marked by oversized suits and a strong desire to emulate Lynam’s smooth delivery. The first episode even opened with a self-deprecating gag: “Did I get the job?” While it was a shaky start, Lineker soon grew into the role, developing a relaxed, affable style that would become his trademark.
Perhaps the most iconic moment came in 2016, when he famously presented the show in his pants. The stunt came after he tweeted that he’d host the first show of the next season in his underwear if Leicester City his hometown club won the Premier League. Miraculously, they did. True to his word, Lineker turned up in shorts, much to the delight of fellow pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright. It was a moment of rare levity that made headlines beyond the sports pages.
Another key milestone arrived during the pandemic in 2021. With live matches suspended, Lineker launched Match of the Day: Top 10 from his home, joined by Shearer and Micah Richards. Rather than analysing matches, they debated football’s biggest topics, creating a relaxed, entertaining format that proved immensely popular. The show spun off into a book and eventually gave rise to Lineker’s podcast The Rest Is Football, which became so successful it made him financially independent from the BBC. In hindsight, this marked the beginning of his slow drift away from the broadcaster.
In 2022, Lineker used his platform to deliver a searing opening monologue at the Qatar World Cup, highlighting human rights abuses in the host nation. It was a powerful moment that put FIFA on the defensive and demonstrated Lineker’s increasing willingness to speak out.
Then came the infamous “porn prank” in 2023. During live coverage of an FA Cup tie, the studio was briefly hijacked by loud moaning noises. Rather than flustered, Lineker remained calm and jovial, chalking it up to someone sending something on a phone. His composed reaction turned what could’ve been a disaster into a viral moment of unflappable professionalism.
Later that year, Lineker was pulled off air after criticising government rhetoric on asylum seekers, drawing comparisons to 1930s Germany. In protest, regular pundits refused to appear. The BBC aired a stripped-back highlights-only episode, which some viewers hailed as a refreshing change.
In 2024, Lineker oversaw the emotional farewell of Ian Wright, complete with tearful tributes and a commemorative cap. Then, in 2025, came Lineker’s own farewell. It began with a retrospective of his playing days, and while he opened with the line “It wasn’t meant to end this way,” the show quickly returned to familiar rhythms. In the final 10 minutes, glowing tributes rolled in, old friends appeared, and Lineker wept. As ever, Shearer sat stoically by his side. It was, in every way, a fitting farewell.
