How long has Gary Lineker been presenting Match of the Day?

Gary Lineker has taken a step back from Match of the Day (Picture: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

As if being one of the best strikers of all time isn’t enough – Gary Lineker has also become one of the most iconic footballer presenters of his generation.

Since swapping the pitch for the TV studio in the 1990’s, Lineker has been a fixture in living rooms up and down the country for the best part of 25 years, appearing on Match of the Day and the BBC’s coverage of major football tournaments.

However, with his row with the BBC over impartiality rumbling on, there remains a very real possibility that Lineker’s association with the iconic show could be coming to an end.

Let’s take a look at how long Lineker has been presenting Match of the Day and which other shows the 62 year-old has landed a gig on.

How long has Gary Lineker been hosting Match of the Day?

Lineker retired as a professional footballer in 1994 following his two year spell at Japanese side Nagoya Grampus.

He then embarked on a career in the media, initially with BBC Radio 5 Live, along with other football punditry work.

Lineker is synonymous with Match of the Day (Picture: Peter Dench/Getty Images)

Lineker’s first venture on Match of the Day was as an analyst, before stepping up to become the main presenter in 1999, taking over from Des Lynam 24 years ago.

His promotion to the main role brought the curtain down on Lynam’s 11 year tenure in the hot seat.

And Lineker has remained as the host of the show ever since, with his 24 year reign making him the longest presenter in Match of the Day’s history.

Lineker is the fifth permanent presenter to have hosted the programme since it began in the 1960s.

Before Lynam and Lineker, the job was originally held by Kenneth Wolstenholme (1964–1967), David Coleman (1967–1973) and Jimmy Hill (1973–1988).

Match of the Day is one of the BBC’s longest running shows, with the Guinness World Records recognising it ‘as the longest-running football television programme in the world’ in 2015.

What other shows has Lineker presented?

Lineker’s early media career saw him become a team captain on sports comedy show, They Think It’s All Over, from 1995 to 2003.

Following Steve Rider’s departure as host of the BBC’s golf output in 2005, Lineker was appointed as his successor and went on to front BBC’s coverage of the Masters and The Open.

More: Gary Lineker

Lineker’s contract with the BBC has seen him in the hot seat for the corporation’s World Cup, European Championship and FA Cup coverage, whilst he has also presented at the London Olympics in 2012 and the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.

Aside from his work with the BBC, Lineker has presented shows on Al Jazeera Sports, Eredivisie Live NBC Sports Network and most recently with La Liga TV.

He also fronted BT Sport’s coverage of the Champions League between 2015 and 2021.

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