Gary Lineker is stepping down from another role at the BBC just days after leaving Match of the Day

Gary Lineker has stepped down as presenter of Sports Personality Of The Year (SPOTY), a BBC spokesperson said.

The company said last year’s awards ceremony, which he co-hosted with retired Lionesses Alex Scott and TV presenters Gabby Logan and Clare Balding, was the former England striker’s last.

This comes after an announcement that the 63-year-old will stop presenting football highlights show Match Of The Day (MOTD) at the end of the current Premier League season, but will remain at the BBC after both parties agreed to a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup.

Lineker will also host BBC Sport’s coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025-26 season and continue to present the Match Of The Day: Top 10 podcast for BBC Sounds, which will also host The Rest Is Football podcast, produced by Lineker’s Goalhanger Podcasts, with one episode released on the platform every week.

A spokesperson for BBC SPOTY told the PA news agency: ‘We can confirm that Gary has decided to step down from the team presenting the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.

Gary Lineker has stepped down as presenter of Sports Personality Of The Year

The announcement comes just days after it was confirmed he had quit Match of the Day

The BBC has confirmed that last year’s awards ceremony was the former England man’s last

‘After 23 years, last year’s 70th anniversary was his last show.’

The PA news agency understands the decision was not related to the contract talks, which will see Lineker continue to present live football on the BBC until after the 2026 World Cup.

It follows that BBC News reports that the former Leicester City footballer was open to staying at MOTD but was not offered a new contract.

Following the announcement of his new contract, Lineker said: ‘I am delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank everyone who made this possible.’

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: ‘Gary is a world-class presenter and we are delighted he will lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.

‘After 25 seasons, Gary is saying goodbye to MOTD.

‘We would like to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers every week.

‘He will be greatly missed on the show, but we are so pleased he will remain with the BBC to present live football.’

The former Leicester footballer was open to staying at MOTD, but was not offered a new contract

Lineker will remain at the BBC after both parties agreed to a contract extension

Despite his departure from MOTD, he will provide BBC Sport’s FA Cup coverage in the 2025/26 season

Match Of The Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman and Football Focus presenter Scott are two of the favorites tapped to replace Lineker on MOTD.

A BBC statement on the future of the flagship football highlights program said: ‘Future plans for Match of the Day will be announced in due course.’

Lineker, who regularly tops public lists of the BBC’s biggest earners, was briefly suspended as presenter of the program in March last year after his tweet about the British government’s asylum policy sparked a row over BBC presenters expressing political views expressed on social media.

In response, Lineker’s colleagues, including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, refused to appear on the show in solidarity with Lineker and it was reduced to a 20-minute highlights package with no presenters, experts or commentary. Lineker was reinstated just over a week later.