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 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
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?)
‘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 with his first wife Michelle Cockayne – George, 29, Harry, 27, Tobias, 25, and Angus, 23.
More to follow.