Gary Lineker‘s ultimate Match of the Day ended with a seven-minute tribute video which charted his adventure from skilled soccer to esteemed broadcaster.
Lineker showed his departure from the BBC on Monday and ‘apologised unreservedly’ for sharing a social media put up about Zionism with a rat emoji – a derogatory time period utilized by Nazi Germany about Jewish other folks.
He will not entrance the BBC’s World Cup 2026 protection in America, Mexico and Canada – and taken the curtain down on 26 years of website hosting Match of the Day on Sunday, the general day of the Premier League season.
Lineker used to be joined by way of Alan Shearer and Micah Richards at the broadcast with lovers keen to look how his farewell can be controlled.
The 64-year-old handiest in short stated his go out on the stat of the display, joking that ‘it wasn’t supposed to finish this fashion’.
And it used to be a somewhat standard episode till highlights of all 10 video games were aired and analysed.
Gary Lineker offered his ultimate Match of the Day on Sunday night time after 25 years

There used to be an emotional seven-minute video paying tribute to Lineker’s profession on the finish
And then Shearer instructed Lineker it used to be time for him to take a again seat and time for them to mention a ‘right kind good-bye’.
An extended and touching video bundle then performed which confirmed moments from Lineker’s profession over the years accompanied by way of touching phrases from his colleagues, avid gamers, family and friends.
‘When you suppose Match of the Day, you suppose Gary Lineker,’ Richards’ voice used to be heard pronouncing excessive.
Shearer then wired Lineker’s hobby for the position, pronouncing ‘he loves it and it method the sector to him.’
The focal point in the beginning used to be on Lineker’s luck at the pitch with Leicester, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham and naturally England.
The likes of Shearer, Alan Smith, Alan Hansen, Ian Wright and Paul Gascoigne had phrases of reward for his skill, particularly when it got here to placing the ball behind the web.
Hansen then spoke of the way Lineker knew he sought after to be a presenter relatively than a pundit from the instant he hung up his boots, labelling it a ‘seamless adventure’.
Lineker changed Des Lyman in 1999 and Shearer credited his good friend for taking to the position with ‘ease’.

Ian Wright had some touching phrases for a person he admires and has grow to be shut pals with

Former Leicester supervisor Claudio Ranieri additionally congratulated the previous England striker
Richards then admitted he used to be a ‘little bit in awe’ and ‘star-struck’ when he first set to work with Lineker.
Funny and noteworthy moments persevered to be proven, significantly when Lineker offered the display in his undies after Leicester’s Premier league identify triumph.
Each of his 4 sons then seemed, labelling him a ‘truly amusing dad’ and an ‘implausible human being’ whilst stressing how ‘proud’ they’re of him for the entirety he is executed.
‘What does Gary Lineker imply to me?’ Wright used to be then noticed pronouncing. ‘Somebody I like, any individual that has helped me such a lot within the punditry sport. I used to be very lucky to do punditry along him and now I will name him my good friend. I simply want you all of the perfect as a result of I really like you. Take it simple G pressure.’
Gascoigne then joked: ‘Saturday evening you are loose now! I’ll ship you to Turkey to get looked after out. Get you some Botox and me and you’ll be able to move galivanting as I do know numerous rehabs to visit afterwards. Match of the Day goes to be a large loss with out the Links.’
Virgil van Dijk used to be subsequent to supply up reward, calling Lineker a ‘legend’ ahead of Man town boss Pep Guardiola mentioned he ‘will probably be overlooked’.
Former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri then instructed the Foxes fan ‘smartly executed’ and mentioned they are going to all the time have 2016 as a ‘glorious reminiscence’.
The video got here to a detailed with Shearer hailing his ‘nice good friend’ whilst Hansen mirrored on all of the ‘excellent laughs’ that they had over time.
Earlier within the day, Shearer shared a photograph of himself and Lineker throughout their England days and some other of them in combination on Sunday.
He wrote along the pictures: ‘from then to now @garylineker!!! It has been an honour to percentage the MOTD studio with you.

Liverpool’s Premier League profitable captain Virgil van Dijk labelled Lineker a ‘legend’

‘THANK YOU for the entirety over time. You are an impressive broadcaster and arrange to make a troublesome task glance simple.
‘You’re an excellent good friend and we will be able to leave out you right here at the studio ground. Thank you.’
Lineker will go away and not using a pay-off from his £1.4million wage whilst he and Shearer will proceed to paintings in combination at the massively common The Rest is Football podcast.
Lineker has offered Match of the Day since 1999 along with his 25-year reign making him the longest presenter in Match of the Day’s historical past.