Lineker says emotional farewell on final Match of the Day

Gary Lineker fought back tears during his final Match of the Day. He has hosted the show for 26 years and is leaving the BBC.

In November, he announced he would leave after the Premier League season. That season ended on Sunday.

Lineker was supposed to cover the men's FA Cup and World Cup. However, he left completely after apologizing for an antisemitic social media post.

On his last show, Lineker referenced the controversy. He told viewers, "It wasn't meant to end this way." He then turned it into a reference about the season's final day.

At the end of the program, pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards presented him with a commemorative cap and golden boot.

Lineker said, "It's been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day." He added that it had been "utterly joyous."

He spoke directly to viewers at home. "Thank you for watching," he said. "I'm sorry your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye."

Lineker replaced Des Lynam as presenter in 1999. He became BBC's highest-paid presenter over time.

He often shared opinions beyond football on social media. In 2023, he was suspended for a post about asylum policy.

Many BBC Sport presenters supported him during that suspension. After his reinstatement, new rules were issued for presenters' social media use.

Earlier this month, Lineker faced criticism again. He shared a post about Zionism that included an antisemitic illustration of a rat.

He apologized, stating he hadn't seen the image before sharing it. He emphasized he would never consciously repost anything antisemitic.

Soon after, it was announced he would leave earlier than expected. Sunday's show would be his last appearance.

In his statement, Lineker said football had been central to his life. He recognized "the error and upset" caused by his actions.

"Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action," he stated.

BBC director general Tim Davie thanked Lineker for being a defining voice in football coverage for over two decades. They agreed he would step back from presenting after this season.

During his final episode, Lineker interviewed Liverpool manager Arne Slot as they celebrated winning the Premier League trophy. Slot praised him as a great presenter of a beloved show.

The episode began with highlights of Lineker's goals and memorable moments from Match of the Day. This included him wearing Leicester City boxer shorts after their 2016 Premier League win.

Shearer and Richards also paid tribute with testimonials from various figures in football and entertainment. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remarked that Lineker would be missed.

Shearer added that Lineker had been great to him and unbelievable for Match of the Day.

In January, it was announced Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan will take over presenting duties starting in 2025-26 season.

Lineker wished them all the best in their new roles: "The programme is in the best of hands."