Gary Lineker said hosting Match Of The Day for more than two decades has been “an absolute joy and privilege”, but that it is “the right time” for him to exit and “someone else to take the helm” as the BBC looks to make changes to the programme.

Gary Lineker had three reasons for leaving BBC Match of the Day at the end of the season, according to former team-mate and fellow broadcaster Alan Smith. Earlier this week, the Beeb dropped the bombshell news that Lineker would be walking away from their popular football programme next year.

Gary Lineker has revealed why it was “the right time” for him to leave Match of the Day, as he prepares to leave after 25 years. “I think [with] the next [highlights] contract, they’re looking to do Match of the Day slightly differently”,

The One Show and Football Focus presenter Alex Scott has emerged as the favourite to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day

Roman Kemp is being reportedly lined up to join Match of the Day in a new-look show after Gary Lineker announced he was leaving the BBC football highlights programme.

Roman Kemp is reportedly being lined up for a role on Match of the Day once Gary Lineker brings the curtain down on his 23-year reign as the face of the BBC show

Gary Lineker will step away from Match of the Day at the end of the season after the BBC continue to make plans for life without him

The host says it "makes sense for someone else to take the helm" of the long-running football show.

England legend Gary Lineker will step down as the main presenter of 'Match of the Day' next summer - after 25 years at the helm - and is yet to find out who will replace him

The BBC is set to revamp its flagship football programme Match of the Day following Gary Lineker's announced departure after 25 years as presenter. Lineker, who will leave at the end of this season, addressed the change on his podcast The Rest is Football,