- Lineker will step down as the host of the flagship show at the end of the season
- The 64-year-old has worked with a number of pundits during his lengthy tenure
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Gary Lineker has revealed which Match of the Day pundit he will miss the most as he prepares to step down from the flagship BBC show.
Lineker, 64, will quit the programme at the end of the season after 26 years in the iconic chair, having replaced former anchor Des Lynam in 1999.
He will remain with the broadcasting giant to host FA Cup matches next campaign and will also front their 2026 World Cup coverage before retiring.
Lineker worked alongside a number of pundits on Match of the Day – but he has admitted he will especially miss the company of one particular guest.
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards were ruled out, however, with the duo to continue appearing alongside Lineker on their popular podcast, The Rest Is Football.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, Lineker said: ‘There’s no point saying Alan or Micah, as I’ll still be working with them. I don’t like any of the others!’
Gary Lineker has revealed which Match of the Day pundit he will miss the most when he quits
Lineker will step down from the BBC flagship show after 26 years in the famous hotseat
He did not pick Alan Shearer and Micah Richards because he will continue to work with them
He then added: ‘That’s a joke… I’ll miss Danny Murphy, a really underrated pundit, analytically good, and always fun to be around.’
Murphy, who played for Liverpool between 1997 and 2004 and earned nine senior caps for England, first appeared on the show in August 2013.
The now 48-year-old has been a regular in the studio and made more than 170 guest appearances, just 22 shy of Match of the Day icon Alan Hansen.
He is also a Mail Sport columnist, frequently giving invaluable insight into the game’s biggest talking points – and works with BBC 5Live and talkSPORT.
Lineker will be replaced by no less than three hosts, it was confirmed in January.
Sky Sports’ Kelly Cates and BBC regulars Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will all share the role and rotate in and out of the prestigious hot seat.
Giving his verdict on the decision, Lineker told FourFourTwo: ‘That’s probably down to the fact it’s a massive commitment.
‘Those three have all got families, and if you’re saying someone is going to do it for the next ten or 20 years, then your weekends are gone.
Lineker chose Danny Murphy, describing him as ‘really underrated’ and good company
Pictured: Lineker presenting alongside Murphy during an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford this season
Lineker will remain with the BBC to front their FA Cup and World Cup coverage next year
‘That might be it, I don’t know. I didn’t get involved in any of that.
‘I take it as a compliment that they’ve named three, but I suspect it’s not due to that.
‘I haven’t seen them yet to speak to them, but I will do.
‘They’ll be fine and they’ll do a great job. I’ve known them all for years, they’re top presenters.’
