Gary Lineker will retire from presenting Sports Personality of the Year after quitting MOTD

November 13, 2024, 2:22 PM

Gary Lineker will stop awarding Sports Personality of the Year after quitting Match of the Day.

Last year’s awards ceremony, which Lineker co-hosted with retired lioness Alex Scott and TV presenters Gabby Logan and Clare Balding, was his last, it has been confirmed.

It comes after it was announced that Lineker will stop presenting football highlights show Match Of The Day (MOTD) at the end of the current Premier League season.

However, he has extended his contract with the BBC for the 2026 World Cup.

Read more: Gary Lineker breaks silence as it is confirmed he will leave MOTD but will still host the FA Cup and World Cup

Read more: Gary Lineker ‘leave Match of the Day’ at the end of the football season

A spokesperson for Sports Personality of the Year said: “We can confirm that Gary has decided to step down from the team presenting BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

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

It is believed the decision is not related to discussions about Lineker continuing to present live football.

It was previously reported that the former Leicester City footballer was open to staying at MOTD but was not offered a new contract.

Following the announcement, 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 resigning from 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.”

Lineker, who regularly tops public lists of the company’s highest earners, was briefly suspended from hosting MOTD in March last year after tweeting about the British government’s asylum policy.

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.