Lineker tears up as he bids emotional farewell to iconic Match of the Day

GARY Lineker teared up as he bid an emotional farewell to Match of the Day following the BBC's controversial decision to axe him.

The popular presenter thanked his co-workers and the Match of the Day staff for his 26 years presenting the show.

Tributes poured in from former legendary teammates, managers, players, colleagues and family in a heartfelt farewell montage that closed the show.

Man City boss, Pep Guardiola, told the presenter: "You won't believe it but you will be missed!

"You have my Barcelona shirt - you can send it to me!"

Claudio Ranieri, former Leicester manager, was another to send his praises to the former Foxes player.

He said: "Well done for the amazing job you have done.

"2016, we will always remember."

His co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards then presented a tearful Gary Lineker with a golden boot.

MOTD legend Alan Hansen also praised the outgoing presenter, saying his "sharp, intelligent" skills on the pitch carried over into the studio.

"It was a seamless journey," he added.

During the show, the former England football captain interviewed Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who offered words of praise for the presenter.

"And thank you for being such a great host of a BBC show I've watched many times," Slot said.

The Liverpool manager added: "I'd like to give you a Liverpool shirt instead of the other club you played for!"

Emotional Gary praised staff behind the scenes as he bowed out of the show.

He said: "Let me thank for all the people I've had the pleasure of working with over the 25 years...

"Thank you for all the people on the show you don't see.. Thank you all.

"Rather like my football career, everyone else did the hard work."

He then shared a special message with viewers, thanking them for their support and jokingly added: "I’m sorry your team is always last on!"

At the start of Match Of The Day, Gary Lineker opened by saying, "It wasn't meant to end this way" before referencing the title race being over and Champions League qualification being all there was to focus on.

The programme opened with clips of the former footballer in action on the pitch, followed by the words "The end of an Era".

Gary was spotted earlier looking relaxed in a checked shirt and jeans, smiling as he arrived at the studios.

The BBC online preview for tonight's MOTD said: "The best of the action from the final day of the Premier League season presented, for the last time, by Gary Lineker."

However, it came after he recently left colleagues in no doubt about his feelings on BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski.

He was seen to snub his boss and made remarks about him, which were described as “blunt”.

It follows a controversial row over his use of social media.

The BBC have come up with a new format but tried and tested presenters to replace Gary Lineker next season.

Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will have big shoes to fill.

The Leicester-born star, who moved seamlessly from footballer to one of the most famous presenters at the corporation, was temporarily suspended in March 2023.

He was embroiled in an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government's new asylum policy.

In November 2024 he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.

A statement from Lineker read: "I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic – it goes against everything I stand for.

"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."

But the ex-England captain suggested he wants to step away from traditional television when asked in an interview about his post-MOTD schedule.

Just days before announcing his exit from the BBC on Monday, Lineker told the Beyond The Title podcast: “Professionally, I’ve got a big podcast company and I think it takes up quite a bit of my time and it will probably take up a bit more now.

“It’s really exciting and it’s a lot of fun. We’re doing really well. I don’t think I’ll do much television.

‘Really proud’

“Hopefully I’ll be in a position where I can just pick and choose things I quite fancy doing. So the podcast world really I think.”

Lineker also insisted his broadcasting career has made him prouder than his on-pitch heroics for teams such as Leicester, Everton, Spurs and Barcelona.

He added: “I’m actually probably a bit more proud of what I’ve done in broadcasting than possibly football because I always said I was born to be in the box, not on the box.

“I had to work really hard at television.

“ I had to work hard at football but it came naturally, whereas television didn’t come naturally.

“It took a lot of hard work and effort and determination and studying and stuff of other people and how they do it.

“Eventually I got there. Probably I’m proudest of the fact I made it to the top in broadcasting.”

Leicester fan Lineker runs production company Goalhanger Podcasts which is behind hit series The Rest Is Football with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.