Des Lynam admits Gary Lineker was a terrible broadcaster at first but fully acknowledges his successor went on to become a television legend fronting Match of the Day.
In 1999, Lynam accepted a lucrative offer to depart the BBC and move across to rivals ITV, who briefly had the domestic TV rights to show Premier League highlights between 2001 and 2004. As part of Lynam’s exit, he handed the Match of the Day torch to Lineker. He had only retired from football five years previously and had limited broadcasting experience.
Fast forward 26 years, Lineker will finally step down from the iconic Premier League highlights show at the end of the season and depart as a television icon himself. The 64-year-old will still present live coverage of the FA Cup next season for the BBC, though, and the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
As great as Lineker has been fronting the programme, Lynam insists the slick and witty presenter was not always a master in front of the television cameras.
Speaking to the Metro, 82-year-old Lynam said: “I never miss it [Match of the Day]. I’m waiting for what Gary Lineker says at the end of the programme. He’s very cute with his one-liners. He will be very much missed.
“He took over from me because I went off to ITV 25 years ago. He was poor to begin with and he took time to adjust, but once he got the hang of it, he was off an away.”
Lynam showed his true colours with his kind words about his successor, adding: “The last 10 years he’s been magnificent. He’s got the two things you need – football knowledge and he’s good to look at.
“No other ex-player had presented football and he was ambitious. The players used to call him Des apparently, especially Paul Gascoigne.”
Lineker announced his decision to step away from presenting the show in November 2024, after 25 years of hosting. His call preceded a recent announcement that the BBC had won a new four-year deal to air the Premier League highlights.
While many speculated about who the former Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona legend’s replacement would be, the BBC took many by surprise by revealing a tripartite of broadcasters will take over from him. The role of Match of the Day anchor will be shared between long-term BBC broadcaster Gabby Logan, Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman and Sky Sports Premier League presenter Kelly Cates.
When asked how he feels the trio will fare on MOTD, Lynam admitted he will await next season’s coverage before making an opinion. He added: “I’ll reserve my judgement for when they start working.
“The fact that there are three of them is a bit of a weakness, because if there was one outstanding candidate, you’d put them in. But they’re all talented, competent broadcasters.”
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