The BBC has confirmed who will replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day.
It was confirmed back in November that the former footballer, who has hosted the BBC football highlights show since 1999, will exit his long-running role at the end of the season.
The BBC has now announced his replacement, confirming that the role of lead presenter will be shared by three presenters - Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan - from next season.
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Logan, who is also at the heart of the BBC’s rugby and athletics coverage, said there's "an enormous responsibility to make sure we continue to evolve while at the same time respecting the traditions of Match of the Day".
"People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments everyone’s talking about, so while we can tinker at the edges, the core is the football," she added.
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Cates, who will also continue her role with Sky Sports, said: "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."
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Chapman, who will continue his usual programmes on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "I know the history of a lot of radio programmes and TV programmes, and I do feel honoured to be following in the footsteps of the people that we are following in and respectful of what they have done."
While he's stepping down from Match of the Day, Lineker will continue to work with the BBC, leading the 2026 World Cup coverage and hosting BBC Sport’s coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025/26 season.
The presenter will also continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast, while the BBC will host his The Rest Is Football podcast on BBC Sounds.
Match of the Day airs on Saturdays on BBC One.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
