Gary Lineker reveals why it was ‘right time’ to leave Match of the Day

Watch Gary Lineker reveals why it was ‘right time’ to leave Match of the Day - The Independent on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00That's it? You're done, are you?

00:02Yeah, but I did tell you.

00:03I know that, but you've been all over the newspapers everywhere for the last few days.

00:08I woke up when this story broke on Tuesday morning, and I got out of bed, and I opened

00:14my curtains. It was like a scene from a movie. I went like that, and I saw about 20 paps outside,

00:19and I went, oh, I forgot. I forgot to close the curtains a bit, sharpie. Thankfully,

00:25I haven't got full-length windows.

00:26I think the thing to say is that it's basically news of an extra year contract. I always thought

00:35my next thing would be at the end. I've been thinking about it for a long time. I've done

00:40much a day for 25 years. It's been an absolute joy and a privilege to present such an iconic

00:46show for the BBC, but all things have to come to an end. I'll miss you, but I'll still see

00:53you on the podcast regularly. That's for sure, but yeah, it felt like the right time.

00:58It came at a point, really, where the BBC and Match of the Day, they've got the rights for

01:03another three years, and the cycle starts from next season. So it felt like if I just do one

01:11more year, it would be a bit weird. So I think to get a different presenter in place, I think,

01:16would be probably wise on, not just for me, but certainly for the BBC as well.

01:21But I really wanted to finish on a major tournament and do the FA Cup as well. So

01:27it not quite got rid of me just yet. Just yet.