Who is Kelly Cates? The Sky Sports presenter being lined up to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day
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Cates is rumoured to be hosting a new look Match of the Day with Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan. The BBC is reportedly lining up Sky Sports’s Kelly Cates to replace Gary Lineker as the host of Match of the Day, in a dramatic format change for the show. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Lineker would be leaving the football highlights show, leaving viewers to speculate who would succeed him as the face of the series.
![[Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are in the frame to replace Gary Lineker]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/12/12/12115019-cd63fcca-63db-477c-bbd2-5f99571bd246.jpg)
It has now been suggested that Cates, who was an outsider for the role, will now be joining Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan in the role, with the trio sharing hosting duties. The BBC said it does not “comment on speculation”, with Sky Sports stating there was “nothing to add” to reports Cates – who currently also presents on BBC Radio 5 Live – will leave the channel.
![[Kelly Cates]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/16/07/newFile-1.jpg)
However, The Daily Mail claimed that Sky Sports bosses were “saddened” Cates was leaving. When asked about the Match of the Day job in November, Cates, 49, told The Independent: “Gary is still very much in the job and I know him. Chappers and Gabby, who are also being mentioned as frontrunners, are really good mates of mine.
“I’m certainly not going to put myself in the frame for a job that still has somebody in it and where the people being linked with it are my friends. And I love doing live football. I’m happy where I am.”. Cates grew up in a football-dominated household and has always been around the game, mostly thanks to her father, former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish.
