Leicester City have been relegated from the Premier League following their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
The loss at the King Power Stadium condemned the Foxes to a swift return to the Championship after just one season back in the top flight.
This marks their second relegation in three years, with the former Premier League champions now sitting 19th in the table.
Gary Lineker revealed that Leicester's relegation meant he didn't feel like he was watching his team during the Liverpool defeat.
Gary Lineker has admitted Leicester were waiting for relegation
Reuters/YouTube
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the Match of the Day host said the outcome had been inevitable for some time.
"This has been coming for weeks and weeks," Lineker admitted. "Even watching the game today, obviously there wasn't any joy, but even though they played well, which was mildly encouraging, it didn't feel like I was watching my team play."
Despite the disappointment, Lineker maintained a positive outlook on Leicester's achievements over the past decade.
"It's been a mad decade, a really mad decade," the Leicester-born presenter said.
"But if you'd have told me 10 years ago or 12 years ago that Leicester City will win the Premier League and win the FA Cup and then get relegated twice, A: I'd have said, are you completely out of your mind and B: I would have snapped your hand off!"
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Lineker reflected on the club's historical identity, saying: "Basically we've gone back to being Leicester City.
"Leicester's always been a kind of yo-yo team, you know, down one season, up the next. That's pretty much our history."
The Foxes have managed just four wins all season, leaving them with only 18 points.
Their form has been particularly poor since December, with just a single victory in that period.
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Leicester have been immediately relegated after one season in the Premier League
Reuters
Despite the relegation, Lineker expressed optimism about Leicester's prospects in the Championship next season.
"I looked at the players on the pitch today and if they can keep, which I'm sure they probably will keep the vast majority of them, they'll be very competitive in the Championship," he said.
The former Leicester striker believes the club has the quality to mount another promotion challenge if they maintain their current squad.
Leicester's relegation has cast doubt over the future of manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
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Lineker insists they will be back and will compete in the Championship
GettyThe former Manchester United striker has endured a disastrous return to management since taking charge of the Foxes.
Following the confirmation of relegation, van Nistelrooy acknowledged his position is now uncertain.
"I'm waiting on the clarity of the club and how they want to continue," he said. "It is the goal to lead the club. I have to wait on how the club sees things and take it from there."
