The BBC has confirmed that Gary Lineker has signed a new contract that will see him carry on working for the corporation until 2025.
The former England captain will continue in his role as the main presenter of the BBC’s flagship Match of the Day Premier League highlights shows.
He will also carry on fronting the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage and major football tournaments, including the European Championships in 2021, as well as continue to co-host BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.
The corporation says that its new deal with Lineker involves him taking a pay reduction of 23% to his £1.75m salary.
Alongside his BBC commitments, the 59-year-old will also continue to present BT Sport’s live UEFA Champions League coverage.
Commenting on his new five-year deal with the BBC, Lineker said:
“I love working with the BBC, and am very proud to continue to be a part of their outstanding football team.
“I’m looking forward to the next five years – with a European Championship and World Cup on the horizon, it’s exciting times for me and the team.”
Lineker took over as the BBC’s chief football presenter and host of Match of the Day in 1999, taking over from Des Lynam following his defection to ITV.
Prior to taking over as the lead MOTD host, Lineker presented Football Focus and deputised for Lynam on Match of the Day.
Before his switch to presenting, Lineker was a regular pundit across all of the BBC’s flagship football programmes.
Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport, added:
“Gary is the outstanding football presenter of his time. The BBC is extremely pleased to have him leading our coverage so exceptionally, for another five years.”
During his prestigious playing career in the 1980s and early 1990s, Lineker represented clubs including Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham and Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight, and won 80 caps for England.
After his retirement from professional football he switched to broadcasting, initially making several appearances as a pundit on ITV and BBC Radio 5 live, before becoming a firm member of the BBC’s football coverage in the mid-1990s.
Along with football, Lineker has also previously fronted the BBC’s golf coverage and was the main prime-time presenter of the corporation’s coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
His new deal with the BBC now means his association with the corporation will now stretch to beyond 30 years.
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