Gary Lineker to step down as BT Sport’s presenter for Champions League coverage after six years in the role… as he reveals plans to spend weekday evenings watching Leicester in Europe with his sons
- Gary Lineker will resign as BT Sport’s Champions League presenter this week
- His last show will be Saturday’s final between Chelsea and Manchester City
- The 60-year-old rejected a new offer from BT to carry on after this weekend
- Lineker said he wants to spend weekday nights watching Leicester in Europe
Gary Lineker will step down as a presenter of BT Sport’s Champions League coverage after Saturday’s Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City.
The 60-year-old, who also presents BBC‘s Match of the Day programme, has been the lead host of the channel’s Champions League matches since 2015 but will quit after the Lisbon showpiece event this weekend.
Lineker revealed he rejected a new deal with BT, and claims he wants to spend more time with his family, including plans to go follow boyhood club Leicester City around Europe after they qualified for the Europa League once again.
Gary Lineker will step down as BT Sport’s Champions League anchor after six years in the role
Lineker (left) has fronted BT’s coverage of the European tournament for the past six years
A Friday night statement from Lineker read: ‘Porto’s mouth-watering all-English final this weekend will be my final Champions League show for BT Sport.
‘I’ve loved hosting the best club tournament in world football and I’m genuinely proud of being part of their truly ground breaking coverage over the past six years.
‘I would like to thank BT Sport for their generous renewal offer, but after much thought, I have decided to call it a day. I feel it’s time to do things that I’ve always promised myself I’d do: such as follow Leicester across Europe with my sons (how many opportunities will we have?)
The 60-year-old wants to spend weekday nights watching boyhood club Leicester in Europe
‘A big thank you to everyone at BT Sport, both in front of the camera and behind. You’re one hell of a team. It’s been a joy working with you. Well played.’
Lineker has been a Leicester fan since he was a child and celebrated their shock 2016 Premier League victory by presenting the first Match of the Day show of the following season in his underwear.
The footballer-turned-presenter has four sons from the marriage with his first wife Michelle Cockayne – George, 29, Harry, 27, Tobias, 25, and Angus, 23.
Members of the football and broadcast community have paid tribute to Lineker ahead of his final BT Sport show this weekend.
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand tweeted: ‘Been an honour to share the stage with you! One more Last Dance (Until this summer).’
The show’s lead commentator Darren Fletcher posted: ‘It’s been a pleasure mate – we’ll miss u’
More to follow.