BREAKING: BBC reveal Gary Lineker's MOTD replacements including Sky Sports presenter coup
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The BBC have confirmed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will replace Gary Lineker as the presenters of Match of the Day from next season. Lineker will leave the role at the end of the season, having spent 26 years in the presenting chair. It is understood he was not offered a new contract by the BBC's director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski.
He will remain with the BBC to host coverage of the 2025/2026 FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup. But the former Barcelona star will hand over responsibility for hosting BBC Sport's flagship show to a trio of presenters. Chapman and Logan are BBC veterans, with both previously having filled in for Lineker to host Match of the Day. Chapman is also currently the lead presenter of MOTD2.
Along with Cates, Logan will become the first woman to hold the MOTD presenting job permanently. The arrival of Cates is a huge coup for the BBC, with the 49-year-old joining the corporation from Sky Sports, where she was highly-rated. Cates will continue in her role at Sky, where she presents the Friday Night Football and Saturday Night Football programmes. She is keen to get started in her new job and revealed she considers it an honour.
“Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment. I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started," Cates said.
