Kelly Cates reveals she has no wish to ‘be like Gary Lineker’ as she gears up for Match of the Day debut – and Sky Sports star hasn’t even spoken to iconic host since taking up the top job!

New Match of the Day host Kelly Cates has confirmed that she has no wish to ‘be like Gary Lineker’ as she prepares to step into the long-time presenter’s shoes at the start of the new Premier League season. 

Daily Mail Sport exclusively confirmed that Sky Sports veteran Cates, as well as Gary Logan and BBC mainstay Mark Chapman, would take on the role held by Lineker for 26 years after his surprise exit at the end of last season. 

Lineker was due to call time on his stint at the national broadcaster after hosting coverage of the 2026 World Cup, but was axed by the BBC in May after sharing a social media post which ignited a roiling anti-Semitism row. 

Instead of one person replacing the iconic presenter, the position will now be split between the three presenters, with Chapman set to take the reins for the first show of the season on Saturday evening. 

But ahead of her own debut as part of the programme, Cates was adamant that she was not looking to try and mimic Lineker, as she admitted that she hadn’t even spoken to the former England star about taking up the job. 

‘No he hasn’t got in touch and I haven’t got in touch with him, but not because we’re not avoiding each other,’ Cates said as part of Sky Sports’ launch of the new Premier League season. ‘We just don’t know each other. 

Gary Lineker held the iconic role for 26 years but was axed in May after being caught up in a social media firestorm

I know Gary to say hello to (but) we just don’t know each other that well. And I think Chappers was saying that Gary said: “Well, why would I tell three broadcasters how to do their job?” which is very lovely of him because he was brilliant at the job and adored. 

‘And as much as he was a controversial character at times, any focus group that was researching will tell you how much he was adored in that role. 

‘So I think from my point of view, the reason not to do it would be, I don’t want to be Gary. I think there’s a temptation to try and be someone else, and I think that you get a job because of yourself. 

‘And if then you try to be someone else, it can all just get a bit confused. I don’t need another thing to think about. I don’t need to be sitting there thinking: “What would Gary do?” It’s not a decision not to. It’s just we don’t have that relationship.’

Cates also stressed that she had no interest in using her platform to discuss politics and social causes – as Lineker often did as he wrestled with the boundaries of BBC’s strict impartiality brief. 

The former Barcelona star has taken aim at the Conservative party, migrant policy, the Qatar World Cup, and a host of other social issues on social media.

While Lineker was not subject to the same regulations as other BBC colleagues for some time, the corporation brought in revised rules for their presenters’ conduct online in 2023.

But Cates has stressed that she has limited interest in engaging with social media in a similar way. 

‘I haven’t ever really used my social media for that,’ Cates added. ‘So it isn’t something that I’m going to have to change because it’s not ever what I’ve used it for. I think that in a lot of cases, I’m not the best placed person to talk about some of those issues. 

Cates will be joined by fellow broadcasters Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman in a new twist

The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish will continue to host Sky Sports coverage

‘And I think there’s a tendency to believe that if somebody isn’t talking about something they don’t care about it, and I think it’s perfectly possible to care about something and keep quiet and let experts talk about it, which I think is a lot of the time better. 

‘I always feel like if I couldn’t cope well with being challenged heavily on it, then I shouldn’t be putting my opinion out publicly. Whereas I think there are people they don’t necessarily need to be particularly qualified in the area, but are people who are much better informed who can do that.’ 

Alongside her new role, Cates will be continuing her role at Sky Sports as a regular Super Sunday host, with the broadcaster set to show an increased 215 matches during the 2025-26 campaign.