The BBC is reportedly considering a rotating roster of Match of the Day presenters to fill the void left by Gary Lineker's departure.
Lineker, who has been a staple of the flagship football highlights show since 1999, is set to hang up his presenting boots at the end of the current season when his contract expires.
Despite this, it's understood that he has agreed to new terms with the BBC which will see him continue to contribute to other football coverage, including the 2026 World Cup.
The former England striker, now 63, has occasionally stepped away from hosting duties, most notably in March 2023 following social media comments about the UK government's immigration policy.
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However, he quickly returned to our screens after colleagues rallied around him. While there have been instances of one-off guest presenters, recent reports suggest that the BBC may not opt for a single successor.
The Sun suggests that the broadcaster may instead choose a group of rotating hosts, with Mark Chapman named as a potential candidate.
Other possible contenders include Gabby Logan and Jason Mohammad, who have previously co-hosted the BBC's Champions League highlights show with Chapman, as well as BBC regular Alex Scott.
The presenter himself has hinted at an impending end to his tenure with the broadcaster. "As you know, like [Liverpool players] Trent [Alexander-Arnold], like Virgil [van Dijk], like Mo [Salah], I am coming to the end of my contract in the summer," Lineker revealed on The Rest is Football podcast in October.
At that time, rumours were rife that the BBC was set to confirm his exit, yet no official word came through.
"It's natural at some point that you have to have conversations and they've just started," he continued. "I don't know why it all spiralled out of control, but all is okay."
In August, while celebrating Match of the Day's 60th anniversary on BBC Breakfast, Lineker mused about his future with the show. "It depends how long they want me, I suppose," he reflected.
"I love doing it at the moment; I've still got another year left, at least. So we'll have to wait and see what happens. Obviously it's another change in football and television and the rights of the Premier League and stuff like that. All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it's been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!"
