BBC confirm Match of the Day Gary Lineker replacements with Sky Sports presenter coup

The BBC has announced that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan will be taking over from Gary Lineker as the presenters of Match of the Day starting next season. After 26 years at the helm, Lineker is set to depart his role at the end of this season, with reports suggesting he wasn't offered a new contract by the BBC's director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski.

He will continue his association with the BBC, presenting coverage for the 2025/2026 FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup. However, the former Barcelona ace will pass on the baton for hosting BBC Sport's premier show to the new trio.

Chapman and Logan are seasoned BBC professionals, both having previously stepped in for Lineker on Match of the Day. Chapman also currently leads MOTD2.

Logan, alongside Cates, will make history as the first women to permanently host the MOTD presenting job. Cates' move to the BBC is seen as a significant achievement; she joins from Sky Sports, where her work was highly regarded.

Cates, who will maintain her role at Sky presenting Friday Night Football and Saturday Night Football, expressed excitement about her new position and the honour she feels taking it on. "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," she shared, reports the Mirror.

"I've known Gabby and Mark really well for years so to bring it all together, embracing the digital side of things, it feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that's what makes it so exciting too."