Gary Lineker has signed a new non-exclusive five-year deal with the BBC that will see him continue to be the face of the corporation’s football coverage until the end of the decade.
The agreement will see Lineker continue to front Match of the Day every Saturday during the Premier League season, as well as the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage, Sports Personality of the Year, Sport Relief and major football tournaments until 2020.
However, unlike previous deals, his new contract with the corporation will allow him to work for other broadcasters in the UK for the first time, and it is expected that Lineker will be unveiled as BT Sport’s main UEFA Champions League presenter shortly.
It is likely that Lineker’s BBC salary will have reduced as a result of the agreement not being a exclusive deal, although the corporation has declined to disclose the exact financial details.
The 54-year-old former England captain, who played for Leicester, Everton, Barcelona during his accomplished playing career, took over as presenter of the BBC’s flagship football programme in 1999 from Des Lynam.
He joined the BBC a few years earlier as a regular pundit on its football coverage, before taking his first presenting role as host of Football Focus in 1996, which led onto Lineker regularly deputising for Lynam on Match of the Day until his defection to ITV in 1999.
Commenting on his new BBC deal, Lineker said: “I’m thrilled that my relationship with the BBC has been renewed and that I will continue to present Match of the Day, FA Cup, major football tournaments and Sports Personality of the Year.
“I’m already looking forward to getting the 2015-16 season underway.”
The Match of the Day presenter, who fronted the BBC’s London 2012 Olympics and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games coverage, also added on Twitter that his five-year deal will see him work only on football coverage for the BBC, except for Sports Personality of the Year and Sport Relief.
Lineker’s new deal with the corporation follows the BBC’s success earlier this year in securing a £204m renewal of its deal to show Premier League highlights until the end of the 2018/19 season.
Philip Bernie, the head of TV sport, said: “We are delighted that Gary will continue to front the country’s favourite football programme on the BBC, as well as leading our live football coverage.
“He is the outstanding football presenter of his generation, combining great authority from his very distinguished playing career with wonderful broadcasting instincts and sharpness – making him a true star performer.”
Delighted to announce that I have agreed a new 5 year deal with @BBCSport to present their football. Thanks to you all for putting with me.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 4, 2015
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