GARY LINEKER is set for a move to ITV – but he won’t be heading up their footie coverage.
SunSport exclusively revealed last year that Lineker’s incredible run as Match of the Day host will come to an end this summer.
Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season and the Beeb next summer[/caption]
Lineker has been presenting MOTD since 1999[/caption]
Lineker is set to leave the Beeb in the summer of 2026.
And he’s already bagged himself a temporary gig on a new ITV show.
The former Everton and England hitman has been confirmed as the first star on the broadcaster’s new show, Assembly.
In the show, Lineker will field questions from people who are neurodivergent, autistic and/or learning disabled.
An ITV statement read: “After a long and illustrious career as both a Golden Boot-winning footballer and top sports broadcaster, and with his tenure as the longest-serving presenter of Match of the Day drawing to a close this summer.
“There’s no end to the stories that Lineker might share.
“Carefully considered PR fluff won’t cut it on this show.
“And the celebrities can expect plenty of mischief and surprises once they get in the hotseat.”
Gary Lineker will officially leave the BBC after the 2026 World Cup final[/caption]
Lineker will appear on the show with other celebs, including former Doctor Who, David Tennant, Little Mix star Jade Thirwall and actor Danny Dyer.
ITV have previously tried to acquire Lineker’s services, offering him a chance to appear on Celebrity Big Brother.
During a recent episode of The Rest is Football podcast, he revealed: “Do you know, last week I got requests to go on Celebrity Big Brother.
He added: “My agent sent it through, and then jokingly he replied, ‘Oh, yes. Gary’s fee will be £50 million!’
“He did it completely as a joke, obviously. And they came back said, ‘Oh, that’s a little bit…that’s not within our budget.’”
Lineker’s 25-year stint presenting Match of the Day will end at the culmination of the 2024-25 season.
He will, however, head up the Beeb’s coverage of the 2025/26 FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
The final of the tournament, which will take place at the MetLife Stadium in New York on July 19, will be his farewell appearance for the broadcaster.
It was announced in December that Lineker will be replaced by veteran footie presenters Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan.
