Gary Lineker, the beloved host of Match of the Day, has revealed a significant change he made to the show that has had a lasting impact. Lineker, who has been hosting the iconic football highlights program since 1999, has become synonymous with the show and has left his mark not only with his presenting style but also with a tweak he helped the BBC implement in 2004.
Prior to 2004, the BBC had lost the rights to show Premier League highlights to rival broadcaster ITV in 2001. However, when they regained the rights in 2004, Lineker wanted to address a common complaint from fans about the coverage. He suggested that the show should provide highlights for every Premier League match, something it had not been doing previously.
Lineker recently shared the story behind this change during an appearance on BBC Breakfast. He said, “When it came back, when we got the rights back, I said, ‘Is there any way we could show all the games?’ We found a way of doing it and I thought, ‘Right, we finally won’t get people moaning that they’re never on Match of the Day’.”
Since 2004, Match of the Day has managed to squeeze in highlights from every Premier League match, allowing fans across the country to catch up on how their favorite teams performed. This change was a significant step forward in terms of providing comprehensive coverage and addressing the concerns of football fans.
However, Lineker humorously pointed out that even with this change, there are still complaints. He revealed that people now complain about the running order of the teams in the program. He joked, “But of course then it becomes about where they are on Match of the Day, on the running order! ‘We’re always last’.”
Lineker also spoke about the challenges of being the presenter of Match of the Day, describing it as the “toughest” show he’s ever been a part of. Despite the challenges, he is handsomely compensated for his work, earning £1.35 million per year, making him the highest-paid sports star at the BBC.
However, Lineker’s future with the BBC remains uncertain as he enters the final year of his contract. When asked about his plans, Lineker expressed uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know [how long I’ll stay]! It depends on how long they want me, I suppose.” He added that he loves the show and still has at least one more year left, but factors such as changes in football and television rights could influence his decision.
In a recent development, Lineker was not chosen to host the BBC’s new Champions League highlights show, which starts this season. Instead, Gabby Logan is reportedly set to be the head presenter. This decision adds further uncertainty to Lineker’s future with the BBC.
Despite the uncertainty, Lineker expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have presented Match of the Day for 25 years. He acknowledged that it has been a privilege and joked, “I must be getting old!” It remains to be seen what the future holds for Lineker and whether he will continue to be a fixture on Match of the Day.