Gary Lineker is set to bid farewell to Match of the Day this Saturday after an illustrious 26-year stint as the programme's presenter.
The 64-year-old broadcaster's departure marks the end of an era for the BBC's flagship football show, with his planned coverage of next year's World Cup now scrapped.
Lineker had been expected to remain with the corporation until the end of the current season and continue covering live FA Cup matches for the 2025/26 season.
However, his time at the BBC will now conclude this weekend following recent controversy where he posted material on social media that has been deemed anti-Semitic.
Gary Lineker will leave the BBC at the end of the week
PA/Instagram
"Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember both on the pitch and in the studio," Lineker said in a statement.
"I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years."
Lineker's departure follows a controversial social media repost criticising Israel's war against Hamas, which featured an image of a rat historically associated with anti-Semitic tropes.
Despite issuing an apology, BBC chiefs reportedly found his position untenable.
"As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic it goes against everything I stand for," Lineker stated.
"However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."
The post related to the conflict in Palestine, which has seen thousands of innocent people including children killed following Hamas' October 7 attack.
This isn't the first time Lineker's social media activity has caused friction with the BBC, with the presenter previously navigating controversies whilst maintaining his position.
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Lineker's departure will see him relinquish his position as the BBC's highest-paid presenter, having earned between £1,300,000 and £1,354,999 for 2023/2024.
The former England striker had reportedly offered to accept a substantial pay cut of around £350,000 to remain as the face of Match of the Day.
His BBC salary was once described as "outrageous" by veteran broadcaster John Humphrys.
Despite his illustrious playing career, it's Lineker's television work that has primarily contributed to his estimated £30 million fortune.
His business ventures have proven lucrative, with Goalhanger Podcasts showing an impressive profit of £1.4 million earlier this year.
Lineker's wealth is particularly notable considering his playing days ended before the Premier League's financial boom transformed footballers' earnings.
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Gary Lineker wed Welsh model Danielle Bux in 2009 but they split in 2016
PA
Lineker's personal life has often made headlines, with the presenter himself acknowledging that some might find aspects of his relationship history "weird".
The former footballer first married Michelle Cockayne in 1986, with whom he has four sons: George, Harry, Tobias and Angus.
Their 20-year marriage ended in 2006 when Cockayne filed for divorce citing Lineker's "unreasonable behaviour".
In 2009, Lineker wed Welsh model Danielle Bux, but they separated in 2016, reportedly over his reluctance to have more children.
Despite their split, Lineker maintains an amicable relationship with Bux and her current husband, American lawyer Nate Greenwald.
"We get on really well. We go out for dinner when I'm in LA," Lineker revealed.
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The presenter has since embraced single life, telling The Times: "I like being on my own. I don't feel lonely."
Lineker has been vocal about his health concerns, particularly regarding the potential long-term effects of heading footballs during his career.
The former striker is mindful of the increased risk of dementia among ex-footballers, with research showing they are 50 percent more likely to develop the condition.
"Any footballer should be apprehensive and I don't mind admitting that I am," Lineker has previously stated.
He took early precautions during his playing days, making "a conscious decision not to do it in training" when he was in his early twenties.
Gary Lineker stepped down from his role at the BBC after sharing material on his social media that has been deemed anti-SemiticReutersLineker, who scored 32 headed goals in his career, undergoes regular health checks and has discussed his concerns with fellow former players Alan Shearer and Ian Wright.
His grandfather, also a footballer, developed Parkinson's disease in his mid-50s, adding a personal dimension to Lineker's health vigilance.
