October 26th 2024.
According to former Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson, it's ultimately up to Gary Lineker to decide when he leaves the show. After being the face of the flagship football highlights programme for an impressive 25 years, Lineker's contract with the broadcaster is believed to be expiring next year. While there have been rumors about his future, Lineker himself has revealed that talks are underway for a potential new deal that could extend his role as the show's host.
For many years, Lineker and Lawrenson were a dynamic duo in the BBC studio, with the former Liverpool defender serving as one of the show's chief pundits alongside his old teammate Alan Hansen from 1997 to 2018. Lawrenson was also a regular fixture during the BBC's international football coverage and a familiar face on Football Focus before leaving the broadcaster in 2022.
With millions of viewers tuning in to Match of the Day every weekend, the topic of Lineker's successor is a hot topic. While Jermaine Jenas was once considered the heir apparent, he was removed from his role by the BBC in August following allegations of inappropriate behavior towards female colleagues. Now, the front runner for the job is Mark Chapman, who has been a highly popular and respected figure in television and radio. For the past 11 years, he has been hosting Match of the Day 2 on Sundays, making him a natural fit for the role according to Lawrenson.
Despite leaving the show, Lawrenson admits that he still watches it regularly and believes it is still a top-quality program. He also understands the speculation surrounding Lineker's future, but ultimately believes that it will be Lineker's decision to make. He has earned the right to decide when he wants to leave, and if he does, Chapman is a perfect replacement waiting in the wings.
Last year, Lineker faced backlash and was briefly taken off the air after making controversial comments on social media about government asylum policy. However, he received overwhelming support from other BBC Sport pundits and presenters, including Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, and Alex Scott, who refused to appear on air in protest.
Reflecting on his own departure from the BBC, Lawrenson described it as feeling like having an arm chopped off. He believes that Lineker will also move on at some point, but it will be his decision, not the BBC's. While it will be a big role to fill, Lawrenson is confident that Chapman can do a great job, just like Des Lynam and Jimmy Hill did before Lineker.
Lawrenson's last appearance on BBC programming was at the end of the 2021-22 season on Football Focus. Despite the circumstances of his exit, he remains a loyal viewer and still gets excited when he hears the show's iconic music. He believes that, even with the competition from other networks, there is something magical about Match of the Day and it has been a part of the lives of many football fans since childhood. Lawrenson himself still watches it and appreciates its special place in the hearts of viewers.
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