Piers Morgan and a former Sky Sports star are being considered to take over from Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day.

Could Piers Morgan or Jim White be the next host of Match of the Day? According to former Crystal Palace owner and current talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan, the BBC should consider these two personalities to replace Gary Lineker, who will be stepping down from his 26-year stint as host at the end of the Premier League season. Jordan believes that the decision should be based on merit rather than just diversity and inclusion.

While Lineker will still be a part of the BBC until the 2026 World Cup, speculation is already swirling about who will take over his iconic role. Names like Mark Chapman, Alex Scott, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan have been thrown into the mix, but Jordan is not impressed with these options. In fact, he took aim at Chapman and Scott, calling them "must-haves" rather than "should-haves."

In his column for the Daily Mail, Jordan expressed his concern about the show being "littered with social messages" and becoming less entertaining, like Football Focus. He also criticized Chapman for his involvement in the BBC's issue with Lineker last year. Instead, Jordan suggests getting the "best in class" and not allowing a young producer to dictate the next presenter's qualities, such as having an opinion on rainbow flags.

Jordan has two names in mind that he believes the BBC should consider – Jim White and Piers Morgan. White, who spent 23 years at Sky Sports, is currently Jordan's co-host on talkSPORT. Jordan believes that he would bring gravitas and professionalism to the show and manage others' opinions rather than imposing his own. As for Morgan, Jordan acknowledges that he may be a controversial choice, but he believes that Morgan can excel at anything he puts his mind to. Plus, he's a passionate football fan and even had a memorable interview with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022, leading to the player's infamous exit from Manchester United.

Despite not being a sports presenter, Morgan's love for Arsenal and football in general may make him a strong candidate. However, as Jordan notes, the BBC may need to consider if they can afford him.

Whoever takes over as the new host of Match of the Day will have big shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of Lineker. The former England captain recently shared some advice for his successor on The Rest is Football podcast, encouraging them to be themselves and enjoy the experience. He knows firsthand the pressure of taking over from a beloved host, having followed in the footsteps of Des Lynam. But in the end, Lineker believes that the show will continue to be brilliant, with or without him.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]