BBC reveal Gary Lineker's MOTD replacements including Sky Sports presenter coup

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.

"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."

The BBC have confirmed the trio will share the role of lead presenter across Match of the Day, Match of the Day 2 and Match of the Day Champions League. Chapman had previously been reportedly reluctant to split the job, but has now insisted that he has no problem with the new arrangement.

"This isn't about the three of us, it's about the three of us plus our pundits, plus our editors, plus our analysts and stats people and production people, radio and online. Genuinely this is about all of us as a department working together," he 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."

Logan said: “It’s always a real moment (to sit in the presenter’s chair) because it has such history. It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TV has changed so much.

“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.”

Kay-Jelski meanwhile is delighted to have secured the trio, as he hailed Lineker's work. He added: "I know viewers will love these three incredible broadcasters and journalists at the heart of our football coverage next season.

"They're brilliant at what they do and Match of the Day viewers can be sure they will be well looked after as the big football talking points are expertly analysed. Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 26 years.

"He'll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football's greatest tournaments. Outside of Match of the Day we've got some great new shows, voices and surprises lined up for the 2025/26 season across audio, video and digital and we look forward to sharing them with you all later in the year. It's a truly exciting time for BBC Sport's football coverage."